Sanguisorba hakusanensis, the Japanese burnet, is a species of flowering plant in the family Rosaceae, native to Japan,Botanical Magazine. [Shokubutsu-gaku zasshi]. [Tokyo Botanical Society]. Tokyo 21:140. 1907 and Korea.
The plant was first described in 1907 by Tomitaro Makino.Makino (1907) Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 21: 140 Its botanical epithet means "coming from Hakusan", a mountain in Japan.
Description This perennial grows on mountain ridges or in sunny rock crevices or grasslands near them. The stem grows to heights of and has few hairs. The leaves are opposite. The basal leaves are pinnate with 4–6 pairs of leaflets. The stem leaves are smaller and often have hairs on the lower underside. The reddish purple flowers bloom in August–September, and hang iat the ends of branches in spike inflorescences . The fruit is a squarish berry. The number of stamens is 6–12.
Distribution It is native to both Korea and Japan. In South Korea it is found on the mountains Jirisan and Gayasan (Gyeongsangnam-do), and Mudeungsan (Jeollanam-do), Deogyusan (Jeollabuk-do), and Seoraksan (Gangwon-do).
Uses In South Korea, the young leaves are eaten, while the roots are used medicinally.
Cultivation It is attractive in the garden for its long-lasting pink or lavender, fuzzy, arching plumes, as well as its gray-green, heavily scalloped leaves. It grows to about tall when in flower, and prefers full sun to partial shade in moist, well-drained soil.USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Sanguisorba hakusanensis in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed on 07-Oct-06.
Known cultivars include Sanguisorba hakusanensis 'Lilac Squirrel' (also known as Sanguisorba 'Lilac Squirrel',) it blooms from July to September.
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