white squill; sea onion
A bulbous plant (Urginea maritima) native to the Mediterranean region, known for its medicinal and toxic properties. The term is primarily botanical.
The sea onion is a perennial plant native to the Mediterranean coast.
The bulb of the white squill contains compounds with cardiotonic effects.
The kanji 海 (sea) and 葱 (onion) directly describe the plant's appearance and habitat. The reading かいそう is the on'yomi of these characters. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the name likely reflects a direct translation or calque from a European language.