avens

American  

[av-inz] / ˈæv ɪnz /

noun

plural

avens

1. any of various plants of the genus Geum, of the rose family, having yellow, white, or red flowers.

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avens British  

/ ˈævɪnz /

noun

1. any of several temperate or arctic rosaceous plants of the genus Geum, such as G. rivale ( water avens ), which has a purple calyx and orange-pink flowers See also herb bennet

2. either of two trailing evergreen white-flowered rosaceous shrubs of the genus Dryas that grow on mountains in N temperate regions and in the Arctic

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Etymology

Origin of avens

1200–50; Middle English avence < Old French < Medieval Latin avencia kind of clover

Example Sentences

Across the parking lot were bluebells, cottony willow plants, white-flowered Labrador tea, mountain avens and blue forget-me-nots.

From Washington Post • Apr. 7, 2016

Marsh sedge grew there, pink, sweet-scented valerian and the drooping water avens.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams

Common avens, or herb-bennet, G. urbānum, possesses astringent properties, and was formerly used in medicine.

From The New Gresham Encyclopedia. Vol. 1 Part 3 Atrebates to Bedlis by Various

There were buttercups, avens, and white nettles in flower on December 31st.

From Nature Near London by Jefferies, Richard

But saucy bumblebees, undutiful pilferers from the purple avens, rarely visit blossoms so inconspicuous.

From Wild Flowers An Aid to Knowledge of Our Wild Flowers and Their Insect Visitors by Blanchan, Neltje