calla lily
calla lily Lexical Profile
• noun
A bulbous perennial plant of the genus Zantedeschia, native to southern Africa, widely cultivated for its large, showy, funnel-shaped spathe (most classically white) that surrounds a prominent yellow spadix.
"The bride walked down the aisle carrying an elegant, minimalist bouquet of white calla lilies."
Word Nuance & Usage
Despite its common name, the calla lily is neither a true lily (family Liliaceae) nor a true Calla (genus Calla), but rather belongs to the genus Zantedeschia within the arum family.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The name derives from the Greek 'kallos', meaning 'beauty'. Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus originally classified the plant in the genus Calla; although later reclassified into the genus Zantedeschia, the common name 'calla lily' persisted.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.