Han character 蓳

An old name for an edible or medicinal plant.

The entry describes an herb with a root like shepherd’s purse and narrow, willow-like leaves, and says it tastes sweet when steamed. That is a practical plant name, not an abstract idea.

In a Western Jin literary work, Pan Yue lists 堇 beside 薺, another plant name, among vegetables. Later dictionaries connect 蓳 with 堇 and 旱芹 (celery), while one classical commentary distinguishes the edible plant from 菫草, glossed there as aconite. The glosses do not point safely to one modern species, so follow the source’s wording.

Is 蓳 the same as 堇 or 菫?

The forms are related, but a text may require one exact spelling.

Chinese references do not always use the same spelling within this plant-name family. A quotation can preserve a form another reference normalizes; keep the source’s spelling unless the relevant writing standard calls for a change.

As of 2026, Taiwan’s agriculture portal uses 三色蓳 for pansy. For a plant name, follow the exact form in its source or the applicable spelling standard.