Shen Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Grass (cǎo) 苕 Kangxi Dictionary strokes: 11 Page 1022, Entry 26 According to Tang Rhymes (Tangyun), the pronunciation is tiao (level tone). According to Collected Rhymes (Jiyun) and Correct Rhymes (Zhengyun), the pronunciation is tiao (level tone). Book of Odes (Shijing), Chen Airs: There are delicious trumpet creepers on the mound. Commentary: Tiao-tiao signifies abundance. People in Youzhou call it qiao. It grows in summer with stems like wild peas but thinner, leaves like caltrop and green in color. The green stems can be eaten raw, similar to the leaves of small beans. Also, Book of Odes (Shijing), Lesser Odes: The flowers of the trumpet creeper are yellow. Note: The lingtiao, also known as wei, grows in low-lying, damp water. In the seventh or eighth lunar month, it blooms with purple flowers similar to modern gromwell flowers. They can be used for dyeing black and boiled to wash hair, which then turns black. Also, Erya: Explication of Plants: Lian is also known as qiao. Note: It is also called liantiao. Also, the name of a river. Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shanhaijing): The Longshou Mountains are the source of the Tiaoshui River. Also, tiao-tiao describes a tall appearance. Commentary on the Water Classic (Shuijingzhu): Hulao stands by the river, tall and isolated. Zhang Heng, Western Capital Rhapsody (Xijingfu): Sturdy and towering in a high, lofty manner. Also, in the Book of Odes (Shijing) poem The Flowers of the Trumpet Creeper, Xu Miao reads the pronunciation as shirao (level tone), which is the same as yao.