bells of Ireland

noun

1. a plant, Molucella laevis, native to western Asia, having inconspicuous white flowers, each surrounded by an enlarged green calyx.

bells of Ireland

noun

1. functioning as singular an annual garden plant, Moluccella laevis , whose flowers have a green cup-shaped calyx: family Lamiaceae (labiates)

Word History and Origins

Origin of bells of Ireland¹

First recorded in 1955–60; so called from the bell-like green calyx