oncidium

[ on-sid-ee-uhm ]

noun

1. any of numerous tropical American orchids of the genus Oncidium, having clusters of flowers showing great variety in size, form, and color.

Word History and Origins

Origin of oncidium¹

< New Latin (1800), equivalent to Greek onk ( o ) - (combining form of ónkos barb of an arrow) + New Latin -idium -idium; so called from the crests on the labellum

Example Sentences

This admirable collector was hunting for Oncidium splendidum, a stately flower not very uncommon once, but long extinct in Europe.

From Project Gutenberg

He was looking for orchids, however, and who could have expected to find an Oncidium buried among herbage in the open ground?

From Project Gutenberg

This is important, as it explains all the astounding projections on the labellum of Oncidium, Phalaenopsis, etc.

From Project Gutenberg

Oncidium ornithorhynchum is an example; some like the odour of it very much, while it is disagreeable to others.

From Project Gutenberg

In this Oncidium, then, we have evidently a record of many bygone processes.

From Project Gutenberg