葛
also: つづら
Meanings
1
kudzu; Japanese arrowroot
Only with reading くず / クズ
Refers to the kudzu plant, especially the vine or the root used to make 葛粉. The usual reading is くず.
Kudzu starch is made from kudzu roots.
Kudzu vines were spreading beside the mountain path.
2
Chinese moonseed
Only when written 葛 · Only with reading つづら
Rare botanical use with the reading つづら, effectively referring to つづらふじ, Chinese moonseed, not the common kudzu sense read くず.
See also: つづらふじ
As a plant name, 葛 read tsuzura refers to Chinese moonseed.
Usage patterns
- 〈場所〉に葛が生い茂るfor kudzu to grow thick and cover a place
Kudzu is growing thick over the vacant lot.
- 葛の花が咲くfor kudzu flowers to bloom
Kudzu flowers bloom in autumn.