蛭蓆

Japanese

Kanji in this term
蛭	蓆
ひる Hyōgai	むしろ Hyōgai
kun'yomi

Etymology

From 蛭(ひる) (hiru, “leech”) + 蓆(むしろ) (mushiro, “straw mat”).

Noun

蛭(ひる)蓆(むしろ) or 蛭蓆(ヒルムシロ) • (hiru mushiro)

pondweed (Potamogeton distinctus)

Usage notes

As with many terms that name organisms, this term is often spelled in katakana, especially in biological contexts (where katakana is customary), as ヒルムシロ (hiru mushiro).