nyctanthes
nyctanthes Lexical Profile
• noun
The night-flowering jasmine (specifically Nyctanthes arbor-tristis), a plant highly revered in Hindu mythology and cultivated for its delicate, deeply fragrant white blossoms with bright orange stems.
"During the autumn festival, the fresh, fallen flowers of the nyctanthes are carefully gathered at dawn to be used in temple offerings."
A small genus of shrubs or small trees in the olive family (Oleaceae) native to South and Southeast Asia, characterized by fragrant flowers that open at night and drop to the ground by early morning.
"The botanist cataloged a new cultivar of nyctanthes during her expedition through the foothills of the Himalayas."
• Rhymes for nyctanthes
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Modern Latin, derived from the ancient Greek 'nyx' or 'nyktos' (night) and 'anthos' (flower), referring to the plant's characteristic nocturnal blooming cycle.