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カンボジアの豆知識 (9): カンボジアの国花
Fun Facts About Cambodia (9): National Flower of Cambodia

(English report follows after Japanese)

日本の国花といえば、菊、または桜です。では、カンボジアの国花は何かご存知でしょうか？・・・それは、ロムドゥオルという花です。２００５年にカンボジアの国花として、ノロドム・シハモニ国王に認定されました。

 

ロムドゥオルは、８～１２メートルの木に咲く黄白色の花です。ロムドゥオルは、夕方から夜にかけて、遠くからでも分かる程の芳香を放ちます。あまりにも香りがいいことから、かつてクメールの人々は、ロムドゥオルを使って女性のリップバームを作りました。また、美しいクメール女性を「ロムドゥオルのように美しい」と褒め称えるようです。

 

ロムドゥオルには他にも多くの用途があります。茎の部分は建築材料に使われますし、熟したフルーツは市場で売られたりしています。

 

ロムドゥオルは１２月～３月に開花時期を迎え、カンボジアの至る所で見ることができます。今度の開花時期に、ロムドゥオルを観賞しにカンボジアに行けるようになっていればいいですね！

 

Most of you would know that the national flower of Japan is the chrysanthemum, or the cherry blossom (Sakura). But do you know then what is the national flower of Cambodia? ・・・Well, the answer is, the Rumduol flower. It was officially declared as Cambodia’s national flower in a royal decree by King Norodom Sihamoni in 2005.

 

Rumduol flowers are yellowish-white in colour, and they bloom on trees that can reach up to 8~12 metres in height. In the late afternoons and evenings, it gives out a very nice fragrance that can be smelled even at a distance away. Because of its fragrant smell, the Khmer people in the past used the Rumduol to make lip waxes for ladies. As such, beautiful Khmer ladies were often complimented for being as beautiful as the Rumduol flower.

 

There were other uses of the Rumduol as well, such as using of its stem for construction materials, and its fruits being harvested to sell in markets.

 

The flowering period of the Rumduol is between December and March, and it can be found in almost everywhere in Cambodia. Now how wonderful it will be if only we can go to Cambodia to catch the Rumduol flowers in its next flowering season.

ロムドゥオル花の写真 Photo of Rumduol flower. Photo Credit: The Culture Trip

参考文献・References

  1. Guai Shu Shu, National Flower Series Kingdom of Cambodia、30 April 2013

https://www.guaishushu1.com/national-flower-series-kingdom-of-cambodia/

  1. The Culture Trip, Rumduol 11 Facts, 11 April 2018

https://theculturetrip.com/asia/cambodia/articles/rumduol-11-facts-about-cambodias-national-flower/

  1. Seishiron, Rumdul Flower, 27 Jan 2019

https://seishiron.com/rumdul-flower/