sparaxis

/ spəˈræksɪs /

noun

1. any plant of the cormous S African genus Sparaxis, esp S. grandiflora and S. tricolor, grown for their dainty spikes of star-shaped purple, red, or orange flowers: family Iridaceae

Word History and Origins

Origin of sparaxis¹

New Latin, from Greek sparassein to tear (from the appearance of the spathes)

Example Sentences

The known species of Dierama, known in gardens as Sparaxis, are pendula and pulcherrimum.

From Project Gutenberg