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.
The toad lilies in the garden bloomed beautifully again this year.
Toad lilies are plants that bloom in autumn.
Also the name of the lesser cuckoo bird. The plant is named after the bird due to the spotted pattern on its petals.
Katakana spelling is common for this plant name; usually written in kana.
Kanji spelling; rarely used in practice.
Alternate kanji spelling; rarely used.
Alternate kanji spelling; rarely used.
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.