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definitions

houstonia

[hoo-stoh-nee-uh]
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noun

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

Origin of houstonia

1755–65; < New Latin, named after Dr. W. Houston (died 1733), British botanist; see -ia
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for houstonia

Historical Examples of houstonia

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

    Fresh Fields

    John Burroughs

  • That sociablest of flowers, the little Houstonia, was very abundant.

  • Houstonia and Mitchella, or Partridge-berry, are excellent and familiar examples.

  • Under a warm bank found two flowers of the houstonia in bloom.

    Wake-Robin

    John Burroughs

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

    Under the Maples

    John Burroughs

British Dictionary definitions for houstonia

houstonia

noun

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

Word Origin for houstonia

C19: named after Dr. William Houston (died 1733), Scottish botanist
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