Shen Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Grass (cǎo) Character: Yuan Kangxi stroke count: 16 Page 1049, Entry 22 Pronounced yuan Shuowen Jiezi (Explanation of Graphs and Analysis of Characters): A thorny plant, also known as yuan. Erya (Approaching Elegance), Explaining Grasses: Yaorao is the thorny plant yuan. Commentary: This is now known as polygala (yuanzhi). Also, in Jiyun (Rhyme Collection), it is the same as the character yuan.