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The character 柽 (traditional 檉) is a phono-semantic compound: the left-side radical 木 places it in the category of trees and woody plants, while 圣 (traditional 聖) cues the pronunciation. As a noun, it designates the tamarisk, a hardy, drought-resistant shrub or small tree that thrives in arid, sandy regions, particularly near desert margins and saline soils, where few other plants can survive. Because its meaning has never strayed from the literal botanical sense into abstract or metaphorical usage, the character is largely confined to botanical descriptions, regional geographical texts, and agricultural records that document vegetation capable of withstanding harsh, water-deprived environments.
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