藍あい花ばな

noun

indigo fermentation scum

Technical term for the scum that forms near the end of the indigo fermentation process. Rare outside of traditional dyeing contexts.

• 藍あい染ぞめの職しょく人にんは、藍あい花ばなの状じょう態たいを見みて発はっ酵こうの終おわりを判はん断だんする。

  The indigo dyer judges the end of fermentation by looking at the condition of the indigo scum.

noun

Asiatic dayflower

Refers to the plant Commelina communis, also known as 露草 (つゆくさ). The name 藍花 is used because the petals were historically used to make a blue dye similar to indigo.

See also: 露草

• 道みち端ばたに藍あい花ばなが咲さいていた。

  Asiatic dayflowers were blooming along the roadside.