halesian.
/heɪˈliːzɪə/, /haˈliːzɪə/, U.S. /heɪˈliʒ(i)ə/, /həˈliʒ(i)ə/ Botany.
1. Any of several species of velvetseed (genus Guettarda, family Rubiaceae). Also (in form Halesia): the (former) genus comprising such plants. Now historical and rare.
ΚΠ
1756 P. Browne Civil & Nat. Hist. Jamaica ii. 205 The round-leafed Halesia.
?1756–7 J. Ellis Let. in J. E. Smith Select. Corr. Linnæus (1821) I. 82 Dr. Browne [‘Brown’ in original manuscript] by my desire had made an Halesia, but Mr. Collinson tells me you had remarked that it was only the species of a genus already described.
1893 Garden & Forest 18 Oct. 434/1 Browne's Halesia is based on a West Indian tree now referred to Guettarda.
1949 Brittonia 7 50 Halesia P. Br. is a synonym of Guettarda.
2. Any of various deciduous large shrubs or small trees of the genus Halesia (family Styracaceae), native to eastern Asia and eastern North America, having ovate leaves, clusters of pendulous white or pale pink flowers, and fruit which is an oblong dry drupe.Also called silver bell, snowdrop tree.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > non-British trees or shrubs > North American trees or shrubs > [noun] > snowdrop tree and allies
halesia?1756
silver bell1785
snowdrop tree1813
?1756–7 J. Ellis Let. in J. E. Smith Select. Corr. Linnæus (1821) I. 82 I have sent you inclosed a specimen of a Carolina Shrub... I submit the description of it to you, begging the favour of you to honour it with the name of Halesia, from that worthy man, Dr. Stephen Hales.
1758 J. Bartram Let. 13 Nov. in Corr. (1992) 441 I received..ye fine draught of Halesia which I have growing.
1761 J. Ellis in Philos. Trans. 1760 (Royal Soc.) 51 929 (heading) An Account of the Plants Halesia and Gardenia.
1785 H. Marshall Arbustrum Americanum 57 (heading) Halesia, or silver-bell tree.
1823 G. Crabb Universal Technol. Dict. at Halesia Four-winged Halesia, or Snow-drop Tree.
1865 F. Parkman Huguenots iv, in Pioneers of France in New World 58 Here the halesia hangs out its silvery bells.
1900 Country Life 22 Dec. 807/1 May is the month for the Halesias, and after their snowy mantle of blossoms has gone by, the trees are early known by their winged fruits.
1921 Jrnl. Arnold Arboretum 2 171 From Halesia carolina the Mountain Halesia differs in its larger flowers and fruit, in habit and bark.
1990 A. Toogood Garden Trees Handbk. vi. 122/2 Suitable for moist, well drained soils, Halesias do not need regular pruning.
2014 Aberdeen Press & Jrnl. (Nexis) 16 Oct. 10 But visit in October and be rewarded with spectacular autumn colours on the maples and Halesia.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2019; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.1756