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cardinal flower

American  

noun

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


cardinal flower British  

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of cardinal flower

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The cardinal flower is the only flower more gaudy in red than this bee balm.

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

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

Muriel Blake's golden curls, and azure eyes, and roseate bloom flashed on the eye much as does a cardinal flower in a wayside brook.

From Boston Neighbours In Town and Out by Poor, Agnes Blake

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)

Yet in color it is as rich an orange as the petal of the cardinal flower is a rich scarlet.

From Under the Maples by Burroughs, John

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