麒麟菊

Literally, “qilin chrysanthemum”, 麒麟(きりん) (kirin, “qilin, giraffe”) + 菊(きく) (kiku, “chrysanthemum”). The kiku changes to giku as an instance of rendaku (連濁).

• IPA^(key): [kʲiɾʲĩŋʲɡʲikɯ̟]

麒(き)麟(りん)菊(ぎく) or 麒麟菊(キリンギク) • (kiringiku) 

1. dense blazing star, Liatris spicata

   Synonym: リアトリス (riatorisu)

2. a cultivar of 油菊 (aburagiku, “Chrysanthemum indicum”)

As with many terms that name organisms, this term is often spelled in katakana, especially in biological contexts (where katakana is customary).