eriogonum

[ er-ee-og-uh-nuhm, -ee-uh-goh-nuhm ]

noun

1. any of various plants belonging to the genus Eriogonum, of the buckwheat family, native to southern and western North America. Compare umbrella plant ( def 2 ).

Word History and Origins

Origin of eriogonum¹

< New Latin Eriogonum genus name, equivalent to Greek erio- (combining form of érion wool) + -gonum < Greek -gonon, neuter of -gonos, -kneed, -jointed, adj. derivative of gónu knee; so called because the jointed stems are covered with hair

Example Sentences

The alpine spiræa grows here also and blossoms profusely with potentilla, erigeron, eriogonum, pentstemon, solidago, and an interesting species of onion, and four or five species of grasses and sedges.

From Project Gutenberg