edible flower bud of giant butterbur
Refers specifically to the young flower bud of the fuki (giant butterbur) plant, harvested in early spring and used in tempura or as a sansai (mountain vegetable).
See also: ふき
When spring comes, I go picking fuki buds.
Tempura made from fuki buds is pleasantly bitter and delicious.
Katakana spelling used in botanical contexts or for emphasis.
Kanji form; 蕗 is a hyōgaiji character and 薹 is uncommon, so this spelling is rarely used.
Compound of フキ (giant butterbur) + の (possessive particle) + トウ (from 薹, meaning 'stalk' or 'shoot'). The word refers to the young flower shoot of the butterbur plant.