The Ryukyu Tsuchitorimochi (Balanophora tobiracola), which parasitises the roots of Macaranga, Ryukyu persimmon and Ryukyu oak, is at peak flowering. This cluster was growing around a Ryukyu persimmon.
Balanophora fungus peering out from the dim forest floor.
11月中頃から咲き出したリュウキュウツチトリモチの開花が最盛期を迎えています。例年より少し早めです。
Ryukyu Balanophora emerging from the forest floor.
雨が続く石垣島で、リュウキュウツチトリモチの開花が始まりました。来年の1月まで見ごろです。
About 100 had poked their heads out of the ground. Numbers will keep climbing towards year-end.
リュウキュウツチトリモチの季節がやってきました。
Balanophora all over the place. Feels a little earlier than last year.
毎年、たくさん咲くところ。
There were several hundred clumps spread across the area.