fraxinella

noun

frax·i·nel·la ˌfrak-sə-ˈne-lə

: a Eurasian perennial herb (Dictamnus albus) of the rue family with flowers that emit an aromatic flammable vapor in hot weather

called also gas plant

Did you know?

Fraxinella doesn't sound all that exciting-its name comes from the Latin word fraxinus, meaning "ash tree," because its leaves resemble those of an ash tree-but two of its alternate names hint at what's unusual about the plant. Fraxinella is also called "gas plant" and "burning bush" because on a hot summer day the flowers emit a strong vapor that can be ignited. While fraxinella is native to Eurasia, Americans may see it in local gardens-so beware and keep sources of flame away from these perennials.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, diminutive of Latin fraxinus ash tree — more at birch

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of fraxinella was in 1578

See more words from the same year

Podcast

Cite this Entry

Style

“Fraxinella.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fraxinella. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Copy Citation

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

scintilla

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!