african violet
• noun
Any of several low-growing, tropical perennial herbaceous plants of the section Saintpaulia (genus Streptocarpus, family Gesneriaceae), native to eastern Africa and widely cultivated as houseplants for their velvety rosette leaves and clusters of small, five-lobed purple, blue, pink, or white flowers.
"She placed the potted African violet on the sunny windowsill, where its delicate purple blossoms thrived throughout the winter."
A soft, muted purplish-lavender color resembling the characteristic petals of the African violet flower.
"The designer chose a palette of cream and African violet for the bedroom curtains."
Word Nuance & Usage
Despite its common name and superficial resemblance, the African violet is not a true violet (genus Viola), which belongs to the family Violaceae, but rather a member of the family Gesneriaceae.
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Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.