cardinal flower

American  

noun

1. a North American plant, Lobelia cardinalis, with showy red tubular flowers in an elongated cluster.

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cardinal flower British  

noun

1. a campanulaceous plant, Lobelia cardinalis of E North America, that has brilliant scarlet, pink, or white flowers

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Etymology

Origin of cardinal flower

An Americanism dating back to 1620–30; so called from its color

Example Sentences

It is a splendid show of brilliant scarlet, the color of the cardinal flower and surpasses it in mass and profusion.

From Woodcraft or, How a Patrol Leader Made Good by Douglas, Alan

It took a long time to pass quite round, and before this was accomplished, her footsteps were arrested by a splendid cardinal flower, that grow within the shadow of the wall.

From Janet's Love and Service by Robertson, Margaret M. (Margaret Murray)

And here and there, among the lacy white, a stalk of a different sort grew, with red blossoms of a shade so rich that it is called the cardinal flower.

From Bird Stories by Sim, Robert J.

The handsome Great Lobelia, constantly and invidiously compared with its gorgeous sister the cardinal flower, suffers unfairly.

From Wild Flowers Worth Knowing by Blanchan, Neltje

Do not imagine I made any such observations as these at the time, least of all that I then knew the cardinal flower by its correct name.

From Confessions of Boyhood by Albee, John