the flower of the smartweed plant; sometimes used to refer to the plant itself

A type of annual herb (Persicaria tinctoria or Polygonum tinctorium) with reddish-purple stems and oval leaves; the leaves are used to produce blue dye and as an herbal medicine

(literary) to care for the welfare of the common people with deep concern; implies a ruler who shares the hardships and pains of their subjects

(botany) water pepper; an annual herb with reddish stems and spicy leaves, typically growing in shallow water and used historically for seasoning or medicine

bitter weeds, often used metaphorically for hardship and privation

(scientific) the buckwheat or knotweed family of flowering plants; mainly found in the northern temperate zone, they are usually herbs but sometimes shrubs and include plants used for food or dye

The name of a poem from the 'Xiao Ya' section of the 'Classic of Poetry' (Shi Jing); it expresses the sorrow of a child who is unable to provide for their parents in their old age despite the great toil the parents endured to raise them.

(literary) describing the appearance of plants being tall and large; huge or great

an herb in the buckwheat family known for its pungent leaves, often used in traditional medicine or as a seasoning

an annual herbaceous plant in the knotweed family, typically featuring clusters of small reddish-purple or white flowers and used for ornamental or medicinal purposes