rengarengan.
/ˈrɛŋ(ɡ)ərɛŋ(ɡ)ə/, U.S. /ˈrɛŋ(ɡ)əˌrɛŋ(ɡ)ə/, New Zealand English /ˈreŋʌreŋʌ/, /ˈreŋ(ɡ)əreŋ(ɡ)ə/ Originally and chiefly New Zealand.
More fully rengarenga lily. A New Zealand herbaceous plant, Arthropodium cirratum (family Laxmanniaceae), having clusters of pale cream or white lily-like flowers on tall stems, and an edible root which was formerly used as food and for medicinal purposes.
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the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > particular flower or plant esteemed for flower > [noun] > non-British flowers > of Australia
honey flower1799
rengarenga1835
tongue-flower1884
flannel-flower1895
kangaroo paw1902
milkmaids1930
mountain devil1949
1835 W. Yate Acct. N.Z. 89 The root of the Rengarenga (Arthropodium cirratum), scraped and applied..to bring forwards any abscesses or tumours, where matter is forming.
1871 Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 1870 3 151 Astelia Banksii is abundant in sheltered places on the cliffs, and, in some localities, the renga-renga (Arthropodium cirrhatum), makes a fine display.
1904 E. Tregear Maori Race 99 The roots of the New Zealand lily (rengarenga)..had to be cooked in the oven before becoming fit for food.
1996 Chiltern Seeds Catal. 26 Rengarenga. A most splendid and handsome plant from New Zealand with tufts of numerous narrow leaves.
2008 Weekend Austral. (Nexis) 8 Nov. (Features) 8 In temperate climates and coastal gardens, the renga renga lily (Arthropodium cirratum), native to New Zealand, is flowering now.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, March 2010; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1835