blandfordia
blandfordia Lexical Profile
• noun
Australian Any plant of the genus Blandfordia, native to eastern Australia, characterized by striking, tubular, bell-shaped flowers that typically bloom in vibrant red and yellow during the summer.
"During our bushwalk through the coastal heath of New South Wales, we were thrilled to spot a cluster of wild blandfordias in full bloom."
Word Nuance & Usage
While 'Blandfordia' is the formal botanical genus name, in common Australian parlance, the plants are almost exclusively referred to as 'Christmas bells' due to their summer flowering season.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Named in 1804 by English botanist James Edward Smith in honor of George Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford (later 5th Duke of Marlborough), who was an avid plant collector.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.