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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.

See Examples For:

The handsome Great Lobelia, constantly and invidiously compared with its gorgeous sister the cardinal flower, suffers unfairly.

From Wild Flowers Worth Knowing by Neltje Blanchan

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 John Burroughs

It is a splendid show of brilliant scarlet, the color of the cardinal flower and surpasses it in mass and profusion.

From Woodcraft or, How a Patrol Leader Made Good by Alan Douglas

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 Agnes Blake Poor

Where their vivid doubles are reflected in a shadowy mountain stream, not even the cardinal flower is more strikingly beautiful.

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

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