hippeastrum
hippeastrum Lexical Profile
hippeastrum Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A bulbous flowering plant of the amaryllis family, native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, widely cultivated indoors for its large, showy, star- or funnel-shaped flowers.
"She carefully potted the hippeastrum bulb in November so its striking red blossoms would open just in time for the winter holidays."
Word Nuance & Usage
Although frequently sold commercially and colloquially referred to as 'amaryllis', true Amaryllis is a distinct botanical genus native to South Africa, whereas Hippeastrum is native to the Americas.
• Rhymes for hippeastrum
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the 19th century by English botanist William Herbert from Greek 'hippeus' (knight or horseman) and 'astron' (star), earning the plant the early common name 'knight's-star lily'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.