cercis

American  

[sur-sis] / ˈsɜr sɪs /

noun

1. any shrub or small tree of the genus Cercis, as the redbud or Judas tree.

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cercis British  

/ ˈsɜːsɪs /

noun

1. any tree or shrub of the leguminous genus Cercis, which includes the redbud and Judas tree

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Etymology

Origin of cercis

< New Latin (Linnaeus) < Greek kerkís redbud, literally, weaver's shuttle (perhaps after the shape of the fruit), derivative of kérkos tail

Example Sentences

Cercis canadensis, or 'Forest Pansy'

From Los Angeles Times

Proleptic branches may also be due to the shooting out of accessory buds—i.e. extra buds found in or near the leaf-axils of many plants, such as Willow, Maples, Cercis, Robinia, Syringa, Aristolochia, etc.—which do not normally come to anything, or do so only if a surplus of food materials is provided.

From Project Gutenberg

A closely allied species of Cercis, growing in Palestine, had, according to tradition, white flowers, until the arch-traitor Judas hanged himself from its limbs, when it blushed pink for very shame.

From Project Gutenberg

The bushes of wild plums were covered with snow-white blossoms, and those of the Cercis Canadensis, with their red flowers; and I could not help remarking that, in this country, most of the trees and bushes have their flowers before their leaves.

From Project Gutenberg

The underwood of the forest consisted chiefly of Laurus benzoin and Cercis Canadensis; the ground was covered with Equisetum hyemale, from one and a half to two feet high.

From Project Gutenberg