モミジの翼果 maple samara

　植物の種は、ポトリと真下に落ちれば、親と日光・養分などの取り合いになります。子供には、なるべく遠くに旅立つことが、求められます。
　翼果は果実ですが、とても食べられる果実の姿ではありません。果皮の一部が、伸びて薄いのプロペラ状の翼になって、小さな種を包含したものです。今は赤い翼果は、秋になり乾燥して茶色くなると、硬くて軽くなります。そして、プロペラのついた種は、風が吹けば、新天地を目指ざして出発します。
　親が子を送り出す出すのでなく、子供自らが飛び立って行くのは、興味深いです。一方、ホウセンカに見られように、熟した果皮が種を弾じき飛ばすのは、親が子供を放り出す感じに見えます。

　If plant seeds fall straight down, they fight with their parent for sunlight and nutrients. Children are expected to travel as far away as possible.
　A Samara is a fruit, but it lacks the appearance of an edible fruit. Part of the fruit peel has become a thin, propeller-like wing that includes a small seed. The red Samaras at this time of year become hard and light in autumn. Then, when the wind blows, the seeds, which have propellers, take off towards a new world.
　It's meaningful that the children are taking off on their own, rather than their parents sending them off. On the other hand, As seen in the Balsam flower (also called Touch-me-not), the way the ripe fruit peel flicks off the seeds looks like a parent throwing their children away.