noun
Chelidonium japonicum; Japanese celandine
A species of poppy native to Japan, with yellow flowers resembling those of the Japanese kerria (山吹). The name literally means 'mountain kerria plant'.
春になると、山道でヤマブキソウが咲いているのを見かけます。
In spring, you can see Japanese celandine blooming along mountain paths.
Katakana spelling is common for plant names and is the usual written form for this species.
Kanji spelling exists but is rarely used; the plant is normally written in kana.
Compound of 山吹 (yamabuki, 'Japanese kerria') + 草 (sō, 'grass, herb'), referring to the plant's resemblance to kerria flowers. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.