タムシバ

タ

ム

シ

バ

Meanings

willow-leafed magnolia; anise magnolia

usually written using kana alone

A deciduous tree native to Japan, known for its fragrant leaves and early spring flowers. The scientific name is Magnolia salicifolia.

タムシバの花はなは春はる先さきに白しろく咲さく。
The flowers of the willow-leafed magnolia bloom white in early spring.
タムシバの葉はをもむと、いい香かおりがする。
When you crush a leaf of the anise magnolia, it gives off a pleasant fragrance.

Kanji

噛chew, bite, gnaw
柴brush, firewood
匂fragrant, stink, glow
辛spicy, bitter, hot
夷barbarian, savage, Ainu
田rice field, rice paddy
虫insect, bug, temper
葉leaf, plane, lobe

Related words

コブシ
コブシ (Magnolia kobus) is a closely related magnolia species with similar white flowers, but its leaves are broader and less fragrant.

Written forms

たむしば
Hiragana spelling, also used.
噛柴たむしば
Rare kanji spelling; the characters are ateji and not commonly used.
匂辛夷たむしば
Rare kanji spelling; the characters are ateji and not commonly used.
田た虫むし葉ば
Rare kanji spelling; the characters are ateji and not commonly used.

Etymology

The name タムシバ is of Japanese origin. The kanji spellings are ateji and not etymologically significant. The exact derivation is uncertain, but it may be related to the plant's traditional use or appearance.