also: ばいも
fritillary (Fritillaria verticillata var. thunbergii)
A specific plant species; the name refers to the bulb or the plant itself, used in traditional Chinese medicine and sometimes as an ornamental.
Baimo is cultivated as an ingredient for traditional Chinese medicine.
In spring, the white flowers of the fritillary bloom.
Kanji spelling is rare and mainly used in botanical contexts; it is not a priority form.
Hiragana variant, less common than the katakana form.
The Japanese name バイモ is derived from the Chinese name 貝母 (bèimǔ). The exact origin of the Chinese name is uncertain, but it may refer to the shape of the bulb resembling a shell (貝) and its use as a 'mother' (母) herb in traditional medicine.