asphodel

American  

[as-fuh-del] / ˈæs fəˌdɛl /

noun

1. any of various southern European plants of the genera Asphodelus and Asphodeline, of the lily family, having white, pink, or yellow flowers in elongated clusters.

2. any of various other plants, as the daffodil.

---

asphodel British  

/ ˈæsfəˌdɛl /

noun

1. any of various S European liliaceous plants of the genera Asphodelus and Asphodeline, having clusters of white or yellow flowers Compare bog asphodel

2. any of various other plants, such as the daffodil

3. an unidentified flower of Greek legend, probably a narcissus, said to cover the Elysian fields

---

Etymology

Origin of asphodel

1590–1600; < Latin asphodelus < Greek asphódelos the asphodel. See daffodil

Example Sentences

His research found that lots of wetland species, such as carnivorous sundews and bog asphodel, disappeared after the fires.

From BBC

You can even buy seeds of the Western false asphodel in garden stores.

From New York Times

The western false asphodel doesn’t do this; it puts these sticky hairs on the main stem bearing its flowers, which grows up to 80 centimeters tall.

From Science Magazine

In Greek mythology, the asphodel meadows are part of the underworld; ancient Greek sources differ about whether those meadows were happy.

From New York Times

The summer asphodel, the flower of the underworld.

From Nature