acidanthera

[as-i-dan-ther-uh]

noun

any bulbous African plant belonging to the genus Acidanthera, of the iris family, having sword-shaped leaves and long tubular flowers.

Origin of acidanthera

< New Latin (1844) < Greek akid- (stem of akís) needle (cognate with Latin acus; see acicula) + New Latin -anthera; see anther, -a²

Also called peacock orchid.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for acidanthera

acidanthera

noun

any plant of the African cormous genus Acidanthera, cultivated for its graceful tubular white and red or white and purple flowers, often scented: family Iridaceae

Word Origin for acidanthera

from Greek akis point + New Latin anthera anther, from the shape of the anthers

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012