Shen Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Grass (cǎo) 蒻 Kangxi strokes: 16 Page 1050, Entry 12 Pronounced ruo. According to the Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen Jiezi), it refers to the fruit of the cattail, which can be made into flat mats. Xu states: Note that the cattail roots grow into the mud. The white part is the root, and the part on top when the sprout leaves first appear is the husk. Book of Documents (Shujing), specifically the Testamentary Charge (Guming): Spread the layered mats. Commentary: The base refers to the cattail mats. Also, juluo is the name of a vegetable. Zuo Si, Rhapsody on the Capital of Shu (Shudu Fu): Its gardens contain konjac and dogwood. Commentary: Luo refers to a type of grass. Old and New Records (Gujin Zhu): People in Yangzhou call luo the bamboo staff, not realizing it is edible. Also, pronounced nuo. Luo is a type of bean.