noun
Miquel's mazus; Mazus miquelii
A small flowering plant native to East Asia, often found in moist, shady places. The name literally means 'purple heron moss'.
ムラサキサギゴケは春に小さな紫色の花を咲かせる。
Mazus miquelii produces small purple flowers in spring.
湿地でムラサキサギゴケを見つけた。
I found some Mazus miquelii in the wetland.
The name is a compound of 紫 (murasaki, 'purple'), 鷺 (sagi, 'heron'), and 苔 (koke, 'moss'), likely referring to the plant's purple flowers and its moss-like growth habit. The exact origin of the 'heron' element is uncertain.