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almost completely developed in the flowering season. Underside of the mature leaves somewhat whitish. Petioles on young, sprouting leaves often have three to four nectaries rather than the usual two(!). Corymbose inflorescence, with two to four flowers. Peduncles 25 cm long. Pedicels 47 cm long. Flower in bud dull purplish pink, becoming light pink (RHS 69-A) when completely opened. Flower about 3.5 cm in diameter. Petals about sixty to ninety (including the petals of the second-story flower), ellipticoval, orbicular, or slightly emarginate at the top, about 20 Ă— 1015 mm. One pistil in the main flower, in the second flower it is phylloid, normal, or absent. The calyx is narrow and funnel-shaped, not hollow, with a faint purple tinge. Sepals are triangular 67 Ă— 45 mm, unserrated, sometimes with a few sepal-like petals. Flowering season is late April (early May in Tokyo), earlier than 'Kenroku-en-kiku-zakura'. 'Bendono' In Japanese 'Bendono' is written with Chinese characters that can also be read as 'Benden', the name by which this cultivar is known in the West. The word Bendono is a first name in Japan, created by adding the suffix -dono to the character ben. This suffix -dono or -tono, is derived from the old colloquial Japanese tonosama that meant ''feudal lord." According to the encyclopedia (Yashiro 18211841), it was common for the daimyo (feudal lords) to add this suffix to their children's names. Literally, Bendono could be translated as "Mister Ben," a name by which a servant would address a lord's son. Ingram, when visiting the Sakura Kwai in 1926, requested grafting material of 'Bendono' to be sent to his home in England. The scions he received formed the origin of the introduction of this cherry to Europe. In its tree shape and botanic details, 'Bendono' resembles the wild Japanese mountain cherry. It has the same kind of single, not extremely large flowers, with a reddish calyx and pedicel. The underside of the mature leaves shows a slight, whitish shade, pointing to the same parent. In fact, according to the (Yashiro 18211841), 'Bendono' was found on Mount , near Tokyo, and we may understand it as another selection of the Japanese mountain cherry such as 'Arashiyama' and 'Tagui-arashi'. It is preferred for its early flowering. In its overall appearance 'Bendono' has an uncultivated quality that cer-