Azami

Azami, written in Japanese as 薊 and often transliterated as azami, is the name for thistle. In botany, azami refers to a group of prickly, flowering plants within the thistle lineage, including many species in genera such as Cirsium and Carduus. These plants are typically herbaceous perennials or biennials with spiny leaves and stems, and they produce heads of purple, pink, or white flowers.

Characteristics and identification: Azami plants have deeply lobed, spiny leaves and a stout, upright habit. The inflorescences are flower heads composed of tubular florets, usually purple or lilac, surrounded by spiny involucral bracts. Fruits are achenes with a tufted pappus for wind dispersal.

Distribution and habitat: Native to Europe and Asia, thistles have been widely naturalized around the world. They commonly grow in grasslands, hedgerows, disturbed ground, and roadsides. Some species are regarded as weeds due to their aggressive growth and seed dispersal.

Ecology and uses: Azami species are important nectar sources for many pollinators, including bees and butterflies. They are cultivated ornamentally in gardens for their distinctive foliage and flowers, and several cultivars are selected for showy heads. In Japan, azami is a familiar plant in traditional and contemporary gardening, and the term also appears as a given name.