acidanthera

[ as-i-dan-ther-uh ]

noun

1. any bulbous African plant belonging to the genus Acidanthera, of the iris family, having sword-shaped leaves and long tubular flowers.

acidanthera

/ ˌæsɪˈdænθərə /

noun

1. any plant of the African cormous genus Acidanthera, cultivated for its graceful tubular white and red or white and purple flowers, often scented: family Iridaceae

Word History and Origins

Origin of acidanthera¹

< New Latin (1844) < Greek akid- (stem of akís ) needle (cognate with Latin acus; acicula ) + New Latin -anthera; anther, -a ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of acidanthera¹

from Greek akis point + New Latin anthera anther, from the shape of the anthers

Example Sentences

Many species formerly included in the genus Gladiolus are now correctly assigned to Acidanthera, Antholyza, Babiana, Freesia, Montbretia, Tritona and Watsonia.

From Project Gutenberg