Sow-thistle

荼 is composed of the radical 艸 (grass) and 余 (surname, me). 艸 signifies plants, while 余 depicts the act of pulling up and gathering small weeds. Thus, 荼 represents a kind of bitter herb. Because this bitter herb typically grew along roadsides or riverbanks, creating obstacles, and was also edible, ancient people would weed it out and collect it.