strong-smelling edible plant (archaic)
Archaic term for pungent allium plants such as Welsh onion, garlic, or wild rocambole. Not used in modern everyday Japanese; replaced by specific names like ネギ, ニンニク, etc.
In old texts, the character 蒜 referred to strong-smelling plants like Welsh onion or garlic.
wild rocambole; Allium grayi
wild rocambole; Allium grayi · Alpine leek; Allium victorialis var. platyphyllum
Standard kanji for this archaic plant name.
Alternate kanji, also archaic; rarely encountered.
The exact derivation is uncertain; the kanji 蒜 has been used historically for various allium species.