mahonia

[ muh-hoh-nee-uh ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

any of various evergreen shrubs belonging to the genus Mahonia, of the barberry family, including the Oregon grape.

mahonia

/ məˈhəʊnɪə /

any evergreen berberidaceous shrub of the Asian and American genus Mahonia, esp M. aquifolium: cultivated for their ornamental spiny divided leaves and clusters of small yellow flowers

Origin of mahonia¹

< New Latin (1818), after Bernard Mc Mahon (c1775–1816), U.S. botanist, born in Ireland; -ia

Origin of mahonia¹

C19: New Latin, named after Bernard McMahon (died 1816), American botanist

The mahonia is a spiny evergreen shrub, hollylike, that usually blooms in February and March.

Whether the genus Mahonia be a good one or not, the plants composing it are very distinct from the true Berberries.

Numerous other species inhabit Asia and America; those of the section Mahonia have pinnate leaves.

Single specimens of B. Aquifolium, the Mahonia, become very ornamental with age.

The panicles of mahonia bloom were showing their gold color.

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