blue-eyed Mary

American  

noun

1. a North American plant, Collinsia verna, of the figwort family, having long-stalked flowers with the upper lip white or purple and the lower lip blue.

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blue-eyed Mary British  

noun

1. a blue-flowered boraginaceous plant, Omphalodes verna , native to S Europe and cultivated in Britain

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Etymology

Origin of blue-eyed Mary

An Americanism dating back to 1890–95

Example Sentences

The pair watched the insects evolve gradually over the decades until they would lay their eggs only on the alien invader, which provided more abundant feeding for their larvae than blue-eyed Mary did.

From Economist

I likes that fashion, Misther Robert;' and herewith Andy heaved a little sigh, thinking perhaps of a certain pretty blue-eyed Mary in Ireland.

From Project Gutenberg

But as the days went by, both she and Marjorie grew puzzled over the change in blue-eyed Mary.

From Project Gutenberg

Then I tried the blue-eyed Mary bed, but she said she supposed it was still under the cling peach tree, and the flower, two white petals up, two blue down, and so it was.

From Project Gutenberg

"Don't they have any missionaries out there, Mother?" asked blue-eyed Mary.

From Project Gutenberg