also: みぞはぎ
noun
Lythrum anceps; loosestrife
A perennial herb of the loosestrife family, native to Japan. Often seen in wetlands and used in the Bon festival as a decorative plant. The reading みそはぎ is more common than みぞはぎ.
ミソハギはお盆の時期に仏壇に供えられる。
Lythrum anceps is offered on the Buddhist altar during the Bon festival.
湿地にミソハギの紫色の花が咲いていた。
Purple flowers of Lythrum anceps were blooming in the wetland.
Alternate kanji spelling using 溝 (ditch), possibly from its habitat. Rare in modern writing.
Kanji spelling using 禊 (purification) and 萩 (bush clover), reflecting its use in the Bon festival. Rare in modern writing.
Katakana spelling for the alternate reading みぞはぎ.
Hiragana spelling for the alternate reading みぞはぎ.
The name みそはぎ is said to derive from 禊 (misogi, purification) and 萩 (hagi, bush clover), as the plant was used in purification rituals during the Bon festival. The alternate reading みぞはぎ may come from 溝 (mizo, ditch), referring to its habitat. The exact origin is uncertain.