pincushion plant; Diapensia lapponica
A small alpine evergreen shrub with white flowers, found in arctic and high-mountain regions. The Japanese name イワウメ literally means 'rock plum'.
The pincushion plant is a small evergreen shrub that grows on rocky alpine terrain.
Katakana spelling is common for this plant name; usually written in kana.
Kanji spelling exists but is rarely used; the plant is normally written in kana.
The Japanese name イワウメ (岩梅) is a compound of 岩 (iwa, 'rock') and 梅 (ume, 'plum'), referring to its rocky habitat and plum-like appearance. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.