Shen Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Grass (cǎo) 葫 Kangxi strokes: 15 Page 1045, Entry 34 Pronounced hu. Collected Rhymes (Jiyun): Pronounced hu. Wide Rhymes (Guangyun): Hu is a type of melon. Categorized Compendium (Leipian): Hu is wild rice. Jade Compendium (Yupian): Refers to garlic. Commentary on the Materia Medica (Bencao Zhu): People today call the large variety garlic and the small variety lesser garlic. Sun Mian stated: Zhang Qian traveled to the Western Regions and brought back garlic and coriander. Lesser garlic was already native to the Central Plains, while large garlic originated from the Hu regions, hence the name Hu.