Osyris
/ˈɒsɪrɪs/Botany
noun
Originally: any of several plants used medicinally, probably including toadflax (Linaria species), summer cypress, Bassia scoparia, and the shrub Osyris alba. Later: a genus of evergreen shrubs of the family Santalaceae, native to the Mediterranean region, eastern Asia, and Africa, having narrow entire leaves, small stalked flowers, and roundish drupes.
- Valid publication of the genus name: Linnaeus Species Plantarum (1753) II. 1022..
Origin
Mid 16th century; earliest use found in William Turner (d. 1568), naturalist and religious controversialist. From classical Latin osȳris from Hellenistic Greek ὄσυρις (also ὄσιρις), a plant identified variously with Osyris alba, Linaria vulgaris, etc., probably from ancient Greek Ὄσιρις, the name of Osiris.