also: うけら
Atractylodes japonica
A perennial herb in the Asteraceae family, native to East Asia. The rhizome is used in traditional medicine. The word is primarily a botanical term.
Atractylodes japonica is cultivated as a raw material for traditional Chinese medicine.
Common kana spelling for the plant name.
Alternate reading; less common than おけら.
The origin of the Japanese name おけら is uncertain. It may be derived from the plant's appearance or traditional use, but no clear etymology is recorded.