noun
creeping woodsorrel; Oxalis corniculata
Only when written 酢漿草 / 酸漿草 / 鳩酸草 / 酢母草
A common small plant with clover-like leaves and a sour taste; often considered a weed. The name かたばみ is widely recognized.
庭にカタバミがたくさん生えている。
A lot of creeping woodsorrel is growing in the garden.
カタバミの葉には酸っぱい味がある。
Creeping woodsorrel leaves have a sour taste.
noun
family crest shaped like creeping woodsorrel
A traditional Japanese family crest (kamon) design based on the leaves of the creeping woodsorrel plant. Often used in heraldry and on formal kimono.
彼の家の家紋はカタバミだ。
His family crest is a creeping woodsorrel design.
Rare kanji spelling used specifically for the family crest design; the characters suggest a partial eating or biting shape.
The name かたばみ likely derives from 片喰み (katahami), meaning 'one side eaten', referring to the leaf shape that looks like it has been partially bitten off. The kanji 酢漿草 reflects the plant's sour taste (酢 means vinegar).