On the wildflower island southwest in the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, small white medohagi flowers bloom on slender stems — purple spots at petal bases.
Autumn seven grasses include bush clover but not medohagi. Hardy weed with root nodules fixing nitrogen — greening slopes and erosion control.
Straight stems served as divination sticks (medogi) — medogihagi became medohagi; later bamboo replaced them as "divination bamboo."
Relative nusubitohagi also blooms — named for fruit shaped like a thief's sneaking foot, or clinging hairs. Names carry history and culture.