houstonia

American  

[hoo-stoh-nee-uh] / huˈstoʊ ni ə /

noun

1. any North American plant, belonging to the genus Houstonia, of the madder family, especially H. caerulea, the common bluet.

---

houstonia British  

/ huːˈstəʊnɪə /

noun

1. any small North American rubiaceous plant of the genus Houstonia, having blue, white, or purple flowers

---

Etymology

Origin of houstonia

1755–65; < New Latin, named after Dr. W. Houston (died 1733), British botanist; see -ia

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

houstonia

The list includes bloodroot, cowslip, houstonia, saxifrage, dandelion, chickweed, cinquefoil, strawberry, mouse-ear, bellwort, dog's-tooth violet, five species of violet proper, and two of anemone.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 07, No. 42, April, 1861 by Various

In the fall, if you can find the tufts of eye-bright or houstonia cerulia, and mingle them in with your mosses, you will find them blooming before winter is well over.

From American Woman's Home by Beecher, Catharine Esther

In another locality I might have brought him dwarf cornel, or the houstonia, or wood-sorrel, or the evening-primrose.

From Under the Maples by Burroughs, John

Probably the round-leaved houstonia grew here, as it did everywhere, in small scattered patches.

From A Florida Sketch-Book by Torrey, Bradford

It is prettier than the violet, and larger and deeper colored than our houstonia.

From Wild Flowers An Aid to Knowledge of Our Wild Flowers and Their Insect Visitors by Blanchan, Neltje