菖しょう蒲ぶ

noun

sweet flag; calamus

Acorus calamus, a wetland plant with aromatic rhizomes. Often associated with the Boy's Festival (端午の節句) where its leaves are used in baths.

• 端たん午ごの節せっ句くには菖しょう蒲ぶ湯ゆに入はいる習しゅう慣かんがある。

  There is a custom of taking a bath with sweet flag leaves on the Boy's Festival.

noun

Japanese iris

Colloquial use for Iris ensata var. ensata, a popular garden plant with large, showy flowers. The more precise term is 花菖蒲 (はなしょうぶ).

See also: 花菖蒲

• 庭にわにきれいな菖しょう蒲ぶが咲さいている。

  Beautiful Japanese irises are blooming in the garden.