eriogonum

[ er-ee-og-uh-nuhm, -ee-uh-goh-nuhm ]

noun

1. any of various plants belonging to the genus Eriogonum, of the buckwheat family, native to southern and western North America. Compare umbrella plant ( def 2 ).

Word History and Origins

Origin of eriogonum¹

< New Latin Eriogonum genus name, equivalent to Greek erio- (combining form of érion wool) + -gonum < Greek -gonon, neuter of -gonos, -kneed, -jointed, adj. derivative of gónu knee; so called because the jointed stems are covered with hair

Example Sentences

Eriogonum rhodanthum, a perennial which forms dense mats on hard rocky ground.

From Project Gutenberg