shellflower

[ shel-flou-er ]

noun
  1. an eastern Asian plant, Alpinia zerumbet, of the ginger family, having pendulous clusters of fragrant white flowers with variegated markings.

  1. any of several other plants with flowers or parts thought to resemble shells, as those of the genus Tigridia.

Origin of shellflower

1
First recorded in 1835–45; shell + flower

Words Nearby shellflower

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024