Japanese royal fern; Asian royal fern; flowering fern
Refers to the fern Osmunda japonica, a wild edible plant. The young fiddleheads are harvested in spring and are a seasonal delicacy in Japan.
In spring, many people gather zenmai in the mountains.
Simmered zenmai has a simple, rustic flavor.
The word is usually written in kana. This is the most common spelling.
Katakana spelling is also used, especially in botanical contexts or for emphasis.
Rare kanji form. This character is not commonly used for this word.
Rarely used kanji form.
The origin of the word ぜんまい is uncertain. It may be derived from the plant's coiled fiddlehead shape, but the exact derivation is unclear.