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''Epigaea'' is a genus comprising three species of flowering plants in the Ericaceae. The species are small creeping shrubs that are typically anywhere from 10 to 20 cm tall at full growth, forming large patches. The leaves are evergreen, alternate and simple, ranging amongst the three species from 2 to 10 cm long. The flowers are small, white or pink, with a five-lobed tubular corolla which is produced in mid-spring. The fruit is a dry capsule with numerous small seeds. There are three species: *''Epigaea asiatica'' (Iwanashi). Japan. Leaves with an acutely pointed apex. *''Epigaea gaultherioides''. Georgia and northeastern Turkey. *''Epigaea repens'' (Mayflower or Trailing Arbutus). Eastern North America. Leaves with a rounded or bluntly pointed apex. ''E. repens'' is listed as an endangered species in some U.S. states. ==Symbolism== The name Mayflower was in tradition given to ''E. repens'' by the Pilgrim Fathers after their ship the ''Mayflower''; the plant was abundant where the ship landed at Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts. For this reason, it was chosen to be the state flower of Massachusetts. It is also the provincial flower of Nova Scotia. The name Trailing Arbutus reflects its similarity to the trees in the related genus ''Arbutus'', while being much smaller and prostrate on the ground. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Epigaea」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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