noun
toad lily; Tricyrtis hirta
A flowering plant native to Japan, known for its spotted petals resembling the plumage of the lesser cuckoo (ホトトギス). The name is shared with the bird.
庭のホトトギスが今年もきれいに咲いた。
The toad lilies in the garden bloomed beautifully again this year.
ホトトギスは秋に花を咲かせる植物です。
Toad lilies are plants that bloom in autumn.
Alternate kanji spelling; rarely used.
Also the name of the lesser cuckoo bird. The plant is named after the bird due to the spotted pattern on its petals.
The plant name derives from the bird ホトトギス (lesser cuckoo), as the flower's spotted pattern resembles the bird's plumage.