Chinese lizard's tail (Saururus chinensis)
A wetland plant whose leaves turn white near the top around the summer solstice. The name is shared with the traditional calendar day.
It's the season when the leaves of the Chinese lizard's tail turn white.
11th day after the summer solstice; last seed-sowing and rice-planting day
A traditional marker in the old agricultural calendar, falling around early July. It was considered the deadline for planting rice and sowing certain seeds.
Finishing rice planting by the 11th day after the summer solstice was the old rule of thumb.
Standard kanji spelling for both the plant and the traditional calendar day.
Katakana spelling used especially for the plant.
The name 半夏生 literally means 'half-summer birth/life', referring to the time around the middle of summer. The plant name likely derives from the calendar term, as its leaves turn white around that period.