释义 |
paulownia Bot.|pɔːˈlɒvnɪə, pɔːˈləʊnɪə| Also (erron.) pawlonia. [mod.L. (P. F. von Siebold & J. G. Zuccarini Flora Japonica (1835) I. 25), f. the patronymic of Anna Paulowna (1795–1865), daughter of Tsar Paul I and wife of William II of the Netherlands.] A deciduous tree of the genus so called, esp. P. tomentosa, belonging to the family Scrophulariaceæ, native to China or Japan, and bearing panicles of bell-shaped blue or lilac flowers. Also attrib.
1843Paxton's Mag. Bot. X. 7 Paulownia imperialis (Imperial Paulownia)... A considerable quantity of this noble tree has lately been introduced to Britain. 1847J. Mitford Lett. & Rem. (1891) 206, I prefer them [myrtles] to Victoria Reginas or Pauloneas, or other things with hard names and gigantic leaves. 1883Harper's Mag. Apr. 730/1 This golden Catalpa I purpose cutting down every year.., as is done with the paulownia. 1901L. H. Bailey Cycl. Amer. Hort. III. 1224/1 The Paulownia is one of the most conspicuous flowering trees in spring. 1971Country Life 1 Apr. 741/1 A potentially large shrub or tree,..like the..tree of heaven (Ailanthus) or pawlonia. 1973C. Lloyd Foliage Plants x. 189 A group of paulownia seedlings, grown and pruned for their enormous, furry, heart-shaped leaves. 1976P. Quennell Marble Foot v. 182 The local carpenter made me a large knee-desk of silvery pawlonia wood. |