エビネ

Meanings

Calanthe discolor; ebine orchid

usually written using kana alone

A species of terrestrial orchid native to Japan and East Asia, known for its attractive flowers. Often grown as an ornamental plant.

庭にわにエビネが咲さいている。
Ebine orchids are blooming in the garden.
エビネは春はるに花はなを咲さかせる。
Ebine orchids bloom in spring.

Kanji

海sea, ocean
老old man, old age, grow old
根root, radical, head (pimple)
蝦shrimp, prawn, lobster

Related words

カランセ
Calanthe is the genus name; エビネ specifically refers to Calanthe discolor, a common species in Japan.

Word family

ナツエビネ
Calanthe reflexa (species of orchid)
サルメンエビネ
Calanthe tricarinata (species of orchid)

Built from

海老えび+根ね

Written forms

エビネUsage100%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is common for this plant name; usually written in kana.
海老えび根ね
Kanji spelling using 海老 (shrimp) and 根 (root), reflecting the plant's appearance. Rarely used; the word is usually written in kana.
蝦えび根ね
Alternate kanji using 蝦 (shrimp). Very rare; the word is usually written in kana.
えびね
Hiragana spelling, also common for this plant name.

Etymology

The name エビネ (ebine) likely derives from the shape of the pseudobulbs and roots, which resemble shrimp (海老/蝦, ebi) and roots (根, ne). The exact historical derivation is uncertain.