noun
paulownia; empress tree; foxglove tree
Refers to the tree Paulownia tomentosa, known for its light wood and cultural significance in Japan. Often associated with the 桐紋 (paulownia crest).
桐の箪笥は高級家具として知られている。
Paulownia chests are known as high-class furniture.
この神社の紋は桐です。
The crest of this shrine is the paulownia.
The kanji 桐 is a phono-semantic compound with 木 (tree) and 同 (phonetic component). The Japanese reading きり is native and of uncertain origin.