| 释义 |
impatiens, n. Bot.|ɪmˈpeɪʃɪɛnz, -ˈpætɪɛnz|
[mod.L. Impatiens (Linnaeus 1753), a. L. impatiēns (see impatient a. (n.)) after the tendency of the ripe seed-pods of some species to burst open violently when touched.]
Any plant of the genus Impatiens (family Balsaminaceae), which comprises many tender succulent flowering herbs native to the tropics and northern temperate regions but widely cultivated elsewhere, including the touch-me-not (touch-me-not n. 1 b), busy Lizzie, and various species of balsam. Cf. balsam n. 9.
1785T. Martyn tr. Rousseau's Lett. Elements Bot. (1794) xxxi. 478 Antirrhinum..Fumitory..Violet..Impatiens..and Orchis. 1836[see lady's slipper n. 2]. 1962Amat. Gardening 17 Feb. 4/3 The impatiens, or Busy Lizzie is known as the ‘water fuchsia’. 1978Homes & Gardens Apr. 34/2 Take cuttings... Plants which can be increased like this are impatiens, tradescantia,..and peperomia. 1991Independent 5 Jan. 33/2 Because compactness is not an inherent characteristic, impatiens sometimes rebels. You may find it growing twice as high as its catalogue description suggests. |