hymenocallis
hymenocallis Lexical Profile
• noun
A genus of bulbous, perennial plants in the amaryllis family native to the Americas, characterized by striking, fragrant white flowers featuring long, narrow petals and a central, membrane-like cup; they are commonly known as spider lilies.
"The horticulturist decided to plant hymenocallis along the border of the pond, knowing their spectacular, spidery white blooms would thrive in the moist soil."
Word Nuance & Usage
As a formal botanical genus, Hymenocallis is typically capitalized and italicized in scientific writing, though it appears in lowercase when used broadly as a common noun.
• Rhymes for hymenocallis
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from Modern Latin, from the Greek words 'hymēn' (membrane) and 'kallos' (beauty), a reference to the delicate, membrane-like staminal cup at the center of its flower.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.