ぺんぺん草ぐさ

noun

shepherd's purse

A common weed with heart-shaped seed pods; the name mimics the sound of a shamisen (ぺんぺん) because the pods resemble the instrument's plectrum. Also known as なずな.

See also: ナズナ

• 春はるになると、道みち端ばたにぺんぺん草ぐさがたくさん生はえてくる。

  In spring, a lot of shepherd's purse grows along the roadside.

• ぺんぺん草ぐさの実みは、三味線しゃみせんのばちに似にていると言いわれる。

  The seed pods of shepherd's purse are said to resemble a shamisen plectrum.