释义 |
polyanthus|pɒlɪˈænθəs| Also 7–8 -os. [a. mod.L. polyanthus, f. Gr. πολυ-, poly- + ἄνθος flower: cf. Gr. πολύανθος much blooming.] 1. A favourite ornamental cultivated form of Primula (supposed to have originated from the cowslip, P. veris, or a cross between that and the primrose, P. vulgaris), having flowers of various shades, chiefly brown or crimson with yellow eye and border, in an umbel on a common peduncle.[Cf.1583Dodonæus Stirp. Hist. Pempt. sea 146 Primularum Veris una maior et polyanthemos. 1625Tabernæmontanus Neu u. volkom. Krauterbuch II. 33 Primula veris multiflora. 1629Parkinson Paradisus xxxv. 242 Primula veris & Paralysis, Primroses and Cowslips. Ibid. 244. 9. Paralysis altera odorata flore pallido polyanthos, the Primrose Cowslip.] 1727Bradley Fam. Dict. s.v. Flower, You are now also to transplant your Seedling Polyanthos upon a shady Border, and divide the old Roots. 1728–46Thomson Spring 531 The daisy, primrose, violet darkly blue, And polyanthus of unnumbered dyes. 1748Lady Luxborough Lett. to Shenstone 16 Oct., [We] have now primroses and polyanthuses growing. 1779Sheridan Critic ii. ii, The vulgar wallflower, and smart gillyflower, The polyanthus mean, the dapper daisy. 1840E. Elliott Withered Wild Flowers 1, Thy gemm'd auricula, a growing flame, Or polyanthus, edged with golden wire, The poor man's flower. 1863Kingsley Water-Bab. ii, As smart as a gardener's dog with a polyanthus in his mouth. 2. attrib. or adj. polyanthus narcissus: any one of a group of species of Narcissus, as N. Tazetta, which have the flowers in an umbellate cluster on a common peduncle. So polyanthus primrose, = sense 1.
[1856: see polyanth.] 1866Treas. Bot. 776 The numerous species of Narcissus..have been thrown into several groups or subgenera,..Ajax: the Daffodils... Ganymedes: the Rush Daffodils... Hermione: the Polyanthus Narcissus, distinguished by the slender cylindrical tube and shallow cup, the filaments unequally adnate near the mouth, and the style slender, as in N. Tazetta. 1882Garden 18 Feb. 119/2 The centre bed is filled with..pale-coloured Polyanthus Narcissus, and Lily of the Valley. Ibid. 13 May 323/1 The Polyanthus Primrose sent is an undoubtedly novel form of the ancient Jack-in-the-Green. |