オミナエシ

オ

ミ

ナ

エ

シ

Meanings

noun

golden lace; Patrinia scabiosifolia

usually written using kana alone

A perennial plant of the valerian family, native to East Asia, bearing clusters of small yellow flowers in late summer to autumn. Often featured in Japanese poetry and autumn flower arrangements.

秋あきの野のにオミナエシが一いち面めんに咲さいている。
In the autumn fields, golden lace is blooming everywhere.
オミナエシは秋あきの七なな草くさの一ひとつです。
Golden lace is one of the seven flowers of autumn.

Kanji

女woman, female
郎son, counter for sons
花flower

Word family

女郎花おみなえし月づき
seventh lunar month

Written forms

オミナエシUsage17%
kana-only spelling
The plant name is usually written in katakana; usually written in kana.
女郎花おみなえしUsage54%
gikun (meaning-based reading) or jukujikun
Kanji form is a jukujikun reading; rarely used in modern writing and may be encountered in literary or historical contexts.
おみなえしUsage29%
gikun (meaning-based reading) or jukujikun
Hiragana spelling is also used, though katakana is more common for plant names.

Etymology

The name オミナエシ is of native Japanese origin, with the kanji 女郎花 being a jukujikun (meaning-based) spelling. The exact derivation is uncertain, though it is traditionally associated with the beauty of women (女) and the plant's delicate flowers.