释“藜”、“莱”、“藋”

古代的蔬菜是农史、饮食史研究的重要内容,以《说文解字.艸部》所收＂藜＂、＂莱＂、＂藋＂为例,单看解释,三字之间并无直接的联系。而通过考察可知,＂藜＂是古人常食较粗劣的野菜,＂莱＂为藜的别称。＂藋＂与＂藜＂同类,其＂灰藋＂一词得名之由是因其叶背面灰白且植株高大,并非因＂枝叶翘趯＂而名。＂灰藋＂后世方言音变也称＂灰涤＂、＂灰条＂。

Research and Interpretation of Li,Lai and Diao

The research on vegetables is one of the most important content in the history of farming and food and drink.Simply from their definitions by Shuo Wen Jie zi（Explanation of Articles and Words）,it can be seen that there is no direct connection among these three Chinese characters,Li,Lai and Diao.Further investigation shows that Li is a kind of edible wild herb familiar to ancient people.Lai is just another name for Li;Diao and Li are congeneric.Hui Diao has its name for the reason of gray leaf and tall trunk.Hui Diao also has other names such as Hui Di and Hui Tiao because of dialect changes.