Asian Fawnlily

The asian fawnlily, or katakuri in Japanese, is a perennial plant (an herbaceous plant that survives two or more years) that grows in clusters in mountainous regions. In the Oki Islands, it can be found in Katakuri Flower Park in the Ōzuku area of Dōgo Island. The asian fawnlily is a spring ephemeral (a plant that blooms quickly in spring, then dies in summer). Due to its beauty, it is also called "spring fairy" in Japanese. The leaves are rather thick and soft, and pale green in color, often with purple spots. Reddish-purple flowers bloom from late March, their blossoms facing downward. Due to its similar scent, ants mistake its seeds for pupae of their own species, bringing it to their nests.