hippeastrum

noun

hip·​pe·​as·​trum
ˌhipēˈastrəm
1
capitalized : a genus of tropical American bulbous plants (family Amaryllidaceae) that are widely cultivated for their showy white to crimson flowers and that are sometimes included in the genus Amaryllis
2
plural -s : any amaryllis of the genus Hippeastrum

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek hippeus horseman (from hippos) + astron star; from the equitant leaves and the star-shaped flowers

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Cite this Entry

“Hippeastrum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hippeastrum. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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