Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. A plant of the genus Delphinium, especially any of several tall cultivated varieties having palmate leaves and long racemes of showy, variously colored spurred flowers. Also called larkspur.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. An extensive genus of the natural order Ranunculaceæ, consisting of annual or perennial herbaceous plants, with usually blue, purple, or white flowers. The flowers are in loose racemes, and are very irregular, consisting of five colored sepals and only two conspicuous petals, the spurs of which are inclosed in the long spur of the upper sepal. There are 50 species or more, scattered over the northern temperate zone, 20 of which are found in the United States. Two species peculiar to California have red or yellowish flowers. Many are cultivated in gardens under the name of larkspur, chiefly D. Ajacis and D. Consolida of Europe, and D. elatum from Siberia, with numerous hybrids. One species, the D. Staphisagria, commonly called stavesacre, yields the vegetable alkaloid delphinine.
Wiktionary
- n. A cultivated plant, belonging to the genus Delphinium, with tall blue-colored spikes containing flowers.
- n. A shade of blue, named for the flowers.
WordNet 3.0
- n. any plant of the genus Delphinium having palmately divided leaves and showy spikes of variously colored spurred flowers; some contain extremely poisonous substances
Etymologies
- New Latin Delphinium, genus name, from Greek delphinion, larkspur, probably diminutive of delphīs, delphīn-, dolphin (from the shape of the nectary).
Examples
“[3] The delphinium flower resembles the bottle-like nose of a dolphin; as a result, delphinium comes from the Greek word delphis, meaning "dolphin.”
“So there in the conservatory, the dandelion has a place of honor among lupines and delphinium, lilies and tulips, ferns, hydrangeas and a fruiting grapevine.”
“Poke fake delphiniums into real delphinium foliage, or delphinium-like plants growing in a natural position, not scrunched together in a bouquet.”
The Huffington Post: Suzy Bales: Fake Flowers: Ever Green and Always Growing
“The year of the delphinium … at least in my garden”
Bloomerang Lilac: Too good to be true?! « Sugar Creek Gardens’ Blog
“He used delphinium and white garden roses for the Met's Americanwing opening dinner.”
The Wall Street Journal: The Master Builder of Towers of Flowers
“The Duke manse is beautiful, and it was decorated with a blue carpet, blue hydrangeas, Scottish thistle, delphinium and peonies to accent the silver, blue and white collection, designed by the fashion house's creative director Massimiliano Giornetti, who has quite a few consonants in his name.”
The Wall Street Journal: Salvatore Ferragamo's Grand U.S. Show
“The 'Blue Mirror' delphinium can handle more heat than traditional delphiniums, but does better if it's given some protection from hot afternoon sun.”
“We squat at the top of the property, among the delphinium and yucca and lupine and soon-to-be scorching stones.”
“Ellen watched as a fat bumble bee tracked its way first up and then down the pollen-heavy head of a delphinium, ensuring its bloom would soon be gone.”
“I held the bouquet of delphinium and other spring blossoms in my arms and breathed deeply of their sweet scent.”
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