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Definition of neomarica
neomarica
/ˌniː.oʊˈmær.ɪ.kə/
ne · o · mar · i · ca
Plural:neomaricas
neomarica Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
12
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A genus of rhizomatous perennial plants in the iris family (Iridaceae), native to tropical regions of Central and South America and western Africa, characterized by striking, short-lived flowers and often referred to colloquially as the walking iris or apostle plant.
Example
"The greenhouse collection featured a stunning neomarica that unfurled its fragrant blue and white blooms for just one day."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the Greek prefix 'neo-' (new) and 'Marica', referring to a Roman mythological nymph and to an older, deprecated botanical genus name to which these plants were previously thought to belong.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Neomarica. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/neomarica