ageratum

American  

[aj-uh-rey-tuhm, uh-jer-uh-] / ˌædʒ əˈreɪ təm, əˈdʒɛr ə- /

noun

1. any of several composite plants of the genus Ageratum, especially A. houstonianum, having heart-shaped leaves and small, dense, blue, lavender, or white flower heads, often grown in gardens.

2. any of various other composite plants, as the mistflower, having blue or white flowers.

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ageratum British  

/ ˌædʒəˈreɪtəm /

noun

1. any tropical American plant of the genus Ageratum, such as A. houstonianum and A. conyzoides, which have thick clusters of purplish-blue flowers

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Etymology

Origin of ageratum

1560–70; < New Latin; Latin agēraton < Greek agḗraton, neuter of agḗratos unaging, equivalent to a- a- ⁶ + gērat- (stem of gêras ) old age + -os adj. suffix

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ageratum

Taking a different approach, Entomologist William Bowers, of the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, has isolated two substances from ageratum, a flowering plant, that interfere with an insect's production of juvenile hormones.

From Time Magazine Archive

Such plants as geranium, coleus, alyssum, scarlet salvia, ageratum, and heliotrope may be used for these beds.

From Manual of Gardening (Second Edition) by Bailey, L. H. (Liberty Hyde)

Along the walks ageratum was planted in the following manner to serve as a border.

From The Library of Work and Play: Gardening and Farming. by Shaw, Ellen Eddy

But our gardens owe to this family innumerable beautiful and showy plants such as the China aster, the chrysanthemum, the cosmos, zinnia, dahlia, ageratum, gaillardia, coreopsis, sunflower, etc., etc.

From The Wild Flowers of California: Their Names, Haunts, and Habits by Parsons, Mary Elizabeth

"I should think a low-growing plant like ageratum would be pretty in a vase of that sort."

From Ethel Morton's Enterprise by Smith, Mabell S. C. (Mabell Shippie Clarke)