‖ xeranthemum Bot.
(zɪəˈrænθɪməm)
[mod.L. (Tournefort, 1700), f. Gr. ξηρός dry + ἄνθεµον blossom.]
A plant of a genus of composites of the Mediterranean region, having flower-heads with dry chaffy bracts of a purplish or whitish colour; the genus itself; one kind of the plants commonly called everlasting or immortelle.
| 1741 Compl. Fam.-Piece ii. iii. 385 Seeds of Jacea's,..Xeranthemums,..and sweet Sultan. 1751 Hill Hist. Plants 574 The longleaved xeranthemum with paleaceous receptacles. It is a native of Germany and France; the flowers retain their beauty many years. 1786 Abercrombie Gard. Assist. 116 Virginia and English tobacco, Indian corn, xeranthemum, ten-week's stocks. |