| 释义 |
‖ spiræa Bot.|spaɪˈriːə|
Also spirea.
[L. spīræa, ad. Gr. σπειραία, app. f. σπεῖρα spire n.3 Cf. F. spirée, Sp. espirea, and spirey.]
1. One or other species of an extensive genus of rosaceous plants or shrubs, many of which are largely cultivated for their handsome foliage and flowers.
The cultivated species are of foreign origin; but Spiræa Ulmaria, meadow-sweet, and S. filipendula, dropwort, are common wild plants in Britain.
1669Evelyn Kal. Hort. (ed. 3) 90 Flowers in Prime,..Pome-granads double, and single Flowers, Shrub Spiræa, Agnus Castus. c1711Petiver Gazophyl. ix. lxxxix, Cape Spirea with white loose Flowers. 1731P. Miller Gard. Dict. s.v. Spiræa frutex, Spiræa with a Marsh-Elder Leaf. Ibid., Sweet-scented African Spiræa with hairy Leaves. 1753Chambers' Cycl. Suppl. s.v., 1. The willow-leaved spiræa. 2. The opulus-leaved spiræa [etc.]. 1760J. Lee Introd. Bot. App. 328 Spiræa, African, Diosma. 1888M. E. Braddon Fatal Three i. ii, Half hidden amidst the bank of feathery white spirea. 1894Daily News 17 July 6/5 The leafy spiræa is much used for such decorations.
b. With a and pl. A single plant or shrub, or one particular species, of this genus.
1731Gentl. Mag. I. 40 All sorts of flowering Shrubs which bear the Weather, as Roses,..Lilac, Spireas, Altheas. 1846Lindley Veget. Kingd. 563 Section of the flower of a Spiræa. 1868Rep. U.S. Commissioner Agric. (1869) 85 The beetle frequents flowers; a great number were taken..on the flowers of a spiræa. 1886Pall Mall G. 24 Apr. 7/2 Spireas, gardenias, narcissi, and lilies of the valley.
2. The genus composed of these plants.
1753Chambers' Cycl. Suppl. s.v., The species of spiræa, enumerated by Mr. Tournefort, are these. 1797Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) XVII 697/2 Spiræa, in botany: A genus of plants..in the natural system arranged under the 26th order. 1866Treas. Bot. 1084/2 Of the foreign shrubby kinds of Spiræa some are very handsome.
3. oil of spiræa: (see quot. 1857).
1842[see salicylous a.]. 1857Miller Elem. Chem. Org. vii. 479 Oil of Spiræa,..Hydride of Salicyl; Salicylous Acid. 1866Odling Anim. Chem. 58 He might produce..oil of spiræa, for instance, from salicin. |