french lilac
• noun
Any of numerous cultivars of the common lilac (Syringa vulgaris), originally bred in France and celebrated for their dense, strongly fragrant, and frequently double-petaled flower clusters.
"The gardener planted a striking French lilac near the patio so they could enjoy its sweet fragrance every spring."
A herbaceous perennial plant (Galega officinalis) in the legume family, native to the Middle East and Europe, historically noted for its medicinal properties and as the original source of the anti-diabetic drug metformin.
"Historically, herbalists used extracts from the French lilac to treat symptoms that are now recognized as early signs of diabetes."
Word Nuance & Usage
The term typically refers to highly fragrant, often double-flowered cultivars of the common lilac shrub, but it is also used by botanists as an alternate name for goat's rue (Galega officinalis), a medicinal legume.