Plant size 30 cm dia., 15 cm high (12 by 6 in.). Petiole 7.5 by 0.4 cm (3 by 0.15 in. wide) spreading horizontally, light green. Leaf 15-20 by 5-8 cm (6-8 by 2-3 in.), or +larger; elliptical to lanceolate, petiole-leaf transition decurrent, acuminate, very elongated, drooping tip, with flat surface, slight undulate in margin, not rugose, dark green with slight sheen above, shiny green below. Venation 4-7 (9), closely paced, projected below. Scape 15–30 cm (6–12 in.), smooth, round, bending acutely at ground level, growing horizontally (or subhorizontally on rocky cliffs), usually below the leaf mound.
Note that George says "shiny below", not white-backed. This may well be var. kikutii f. leuconota. George says the following on that one:
In spring, this taxon is pruinose on both sides of leaf and petiole, which fades on the upper surface by flowering time but lasts on underside.
Pieter
"Never trust anyone who doesn't have dog hair on their clothes."
Hmm, that's interesting because what I have is a white-backed plant. Then it could be that what I got in as kikutii caput-avis is really Mikawa-no-Yaki - which is why they look alike. (Darn - I didn't track where I got it from.)
Ed McHugh, Sicklerville NJ Mockingbird feeding juvenile yellow raisons - never leave home without them.
Mockingbird feeding juvenile yellow raisons - never leave home without them.