miscanthus reed
茅 centers on a specific type of tall grass: miscanthus reed, a plant used for thatching and other practical purposes.
茅 combines the grass radical 艹 with 矛, which likely contributes a phonetic element. The character specifically denotes miscanthus reed.
The grass radical 艹 sits above 矛, a spear-like shape. Imagine a field of tall miscanthus reeds with sharp, spear-like stalks.
For ボウ, picture a bow made from a long miscanthus reed: bow -> ボウ, and the reed bends like a bow.
grass used for thatching; sedge used for thatching
hayfield; field of miscanthus
black porgy (Acanthopagrus schlegeli)
thatching a roof (with grass); thatched roof
cogon grass ring (through which people pass during summer purification rites)
abura-gaya (Scirpus wichurai)
sparsely growing cogon grass; short cogon grass
broad field of sparsely growing cogon grass
Japanese foxtail (Alopecurus japonicus)
cogon grass (Imperata cylindrica)
maotai (variety of distilled Chinese alcohol)
thatched cottage; hovel; my humble cottage
black porgy (Acanthopagrus schlegeli)
Japanese accentor (Prunella rubida)
thatched cottage; hovel; my humble cottage
thatched roof
thatched roof
thatched-roof gate (used as the entrance to a garden, esp. of a tea ceremony house)
orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata); cat grass