erythronium
(ɛrɪˈθrəʊnɪəm)
[mod.L. (Linnæus Systema Naturæ 1735), ad. Gr. σατύριον ἐρυθρόνιον, Dioscorides' name for the red satyrion, referring to the colour of the flowers of the European species.]
A member of the genus of ornamental bulbous plants so called, native to North America, Europe, Russia, and Japan, and belonging to the family Liliaceæ.
| 1797 Encycl. Brit. VI. 722/1 Erythronium, dog's-tooth violet. 1868 Curtis's Bot. Mag. XCIV. 5714 It would appear that the species or forms of West American Erythronia retain their colours over considerable areas. 1900 W. D. Drury Bk. Gard. x. 326 Erythroniums range between 6 in. and 9 in. in height. 1961 Amateur Gardening 30 Dec. 5 Erythroniums like a good loam to which the peat and leaf mould has been added. |