dieffenbachia

[ dee-fuhn-bak-ee-uh, -bah-kee-uh ]

noun

1. any of various plants belonging to the genus Dieffenbachia, of the arum family, native to tropical America, often cultivated as houseplants for their decorative foliage.

dieffenbachia

/ ˌdiːfənˈbækɪə /

noun

1. any plant of the tropical American evergreen perennial genus Dieffenbachia, some species of which are grown as pot plants for their handsome variegated foliage. The plants are poisonous and the sap is extremely acrid: family Araceae

Word History and Origins

Origin of dieffenbachia¹

< New Latin (1829), named after Ernst Dieffenbach (1811–55), German naturalist; -ia

Word History and Origins

Origin of dieffenbachia¹

named after Ernst Dieffenbach (died 1855), German horticulturist

Example Sentences

Dieffenbachia, a genus of stove plants with very showy foliage.

From Project Gutenberg