phacelia

[ fuh-see-lee-uh ]

noun

1. any of numerous plants belonging to the genus Phacelia, of the waterleaf family, chiefly of the western U.S. and Mexico, having clusters of violet, blue, or white flowers.

phacelia

/ fəˈsiːlɪə /

noun

1. any plant of the mostly annual American genus Phacelia, esp P. campanularia, grown for its large, deep blue bell flowers: family Hydrophyllaceae

Word History and Origins

Origin of phacelia¹

< New Latin (1789), equivalent to Greek phákel ( os ) bundle (referring to the clustered flowers) + New Latin -ia -ia

Word History and Origins

Origin of phacelia¹

New Latin, from Greek phakelos cluster (from the habit of the flowers) + -ia

Example Sentences

The name Phacelia is from a Greek word signifying a fascicle, or bunch, and refers to the fascicled or clustered flower-racemes.

From Project Gutenberg

It is needless to say that this is not a true heliotrope, but belongs to the closely allied genus, Phacelia.

From Project Gutenberg