Search Dictionary
Definition of lachenalia
lachenalia
/ˌlæk.əˈneɪ.li.ə/
la · che · na · li · a
Plural:lachenalias
lachenalia Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
13
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
Any bulbous perennial plant of the genus Lachenalia in the asparagus family, native primarily to South Africa and Namibia, characterized by its fleshy leaves and vibrant spikes of tubular or bell-shaped flowers.
Example
"The botanical garden's greenhouse featured a stunning winter display of blooming lachenalias native to the South African Cape."
Word Nuance & Usage
Often capitalized as 'Lachenalia' when referring strictly to the formal taxonomic genus, but lowercase when referring generally to the individual plants or flowers.
• Rhymes for lachenalia
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Named by Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin in honor of Werner de la Chenal (1736–1800), a Swiss botanist and professor, combined with the Modern Latin botanical suffix '-ia'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Lachenalia. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/lachenalia