noun
Asian melastome; Melastoma candidum
A flowering shrub native to East and Southeast Asia, known for its showy purple flowers. The name is usually written in katakana.
庭にノボタンが咲いている。
An Asian melastome is blooming in the garden.
The Japanese name ノボタン is thought to derive from the plant's resemblance to the peony (ボタン), with the prefix 野 (no, 'field') indicating a wild variety. The exact origin is uncertain.