photinia

[ foh-tin-ee-uh ]

noun

1. any of various trees or shrubs belonging to the genus Photinia, of the rose family, having clusters of small white flowers and red, berrylike fruit.

Word History and Origins

Origin of photinia¹

< New Latin (1821) < Greek phōtein ( ós ) shining, bright, (derivative of phṓs, stem phōt- light) + New Latin -ia -ia; so named in reference to the glossy evergreen leaves and white flowers

Example Sentences

There are some other species of the genus Photinia, but only two or three are common in British gardens.

From Project Gutenberg