noun
Rhododendron macrosepalum; mochi-tsutsuji
A species of azalea native to Japan, known for its sticky glandular hairs on the leaves and stems. The name もちつつじ (mochi-tsutsuji) refers to the sticky texture resembling mochi.
もちつつじは春にピンクの花を咲かせます。
Mochi-tsutsuji blooms pink flowers in spring.
この辺りの山ではもちつつじがよく見られます。
Mochi-tsutsuji is often seen in the mountains around here.
noun
Japanese azalea; Rhododendron japonicum; renge azalea
Archaic name for the Japanese azalea (Rhododendron japonicum), now more commonly called れんげつつじ (renge-tsutsuji). This usage is obsolete and found only in older texts.
See also: 蓮華躑躅 (れんげつつじ)
古い文献では、もちつつじが今のれんげつつじを指すことがあります。
In old documents, mochi-tsutsuji sometimes refers to what is now called renge-tsutsuji.
The name もちつつじ literally means 'mochi azalea', referring to the sticky, glutinous texture of the plant's glandular hairs, which resemble mochi (rice cake). The kanji forms 黐躑躅 and 餅躑躅 reflect this etymology, with 黐 meaning 'birdlime' (a sticky substance) and 餅 meaning 'mochi'.