polyanthus

American  

[pol-ee-an-thuhs] / ˌpɒl iˈæn θəs /

noun

• polyanthuses
  plural

1. a hybrid primrose, Primula polyantha.

2. Also called polyanthus narcissus.  a narcissus, Narcissus tazetta, having small white or yellow flowers.

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polyanthus British  

/ ˌpɒlɪˈænθəs /

noun

1. any of several hybrid garden primroses, esp Primula polyantha, which has brightly coloured flowers

2. a Eurasian amaryllidaceous plant, Narcissus tazetta, having clusters of small yellow or white fragrant flowers

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• polyanthuses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of polyanthus

1620–30; < New Latin < Greek polýanthos having many flowers. See poly-, -anthous

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

polyanthus polyanthuses

The polyanthus narcissi, carrying their many flowers in heads at the top of the stalk, are what is termed half hardy and they are more frequently seen in florists' windows than in gardens.

From The Garden, You, and I by Mabel Osgood Wright

I think of a polyanthus, and I say, 'Who will first touch a poly?'

From Little Folks (July 1884) A Magazine for the Young by Various

Fill the beds with polyanthus, wallflower, forget-me-not and other early flowers.

From Small Gardens and How to Make the Most of Them by Violet Purton Biddle

Thought at first it was a new development of the polyanthus.

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 99, November 1, 1890 by Various

Very early in January the garden at The Woodlands could boast brave clumps of snowdrops and polyanthus, a venturous wallflower or two, and quite a show of yellow jessamine over the south porch.

From For the Sake of the School by Angela Brazil

In the centre of these squares, plant the seedling polyanthuses, one in each square.

From The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches, Adapted to the Use of Private Families by Mary Eaton

Put thick slices of turnip near your auriculas, favorite primroses and polyanthuses, and Christmas roses, and near anything tender and not well established, and overhaul them early in the morning.

From Last Words A Final Collection of Stories by Hermann Dudley Murphy

In spring the banks should be set thick with violets, primroses, and the lovely bronze, crimson, and purple polyanthuses.

From The Naturalist on the Thames by C. J. (Charles John) Cornish

As an instance of this, he remembered declaring that he could "produce variously coloured polyanthuses and primroses by watering them with certain coloured fluids," though he knew all the time it was untrue.

From Alfred Russel Wallace: Letters and Reminiscences, Vol. 1 by James Marchant

The crocuses were all asleep now, their little petals fast closed, and the daisies too, but the polyanthuses looked bravely with their beautiful eyes at the fast darkening sky.

From The Carroll Girls by Mabel Quiller-Couch