Shen Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Grass (cǎo) Entry: 蔦 Kangxi stroke count: 17 Page 1055, Entry 01 Pronounced niǎo. It refers to a parasitic plant. As cited in the Book of Odes (Shijing), Lesser Odes: The mistletoe and the dodder, spread over the pines and cypresses. Also pronounced niǎo. Also pronounced diào. The meaning is the same. As noted in the Analytical Dictionary of Chinese Characters (Shuowen Jiezi), it is sometimes also written in a variant form (mǔ).