polyanthusn.

Brit.

/ˌpɒlɪˈanθəs/, U.S.

/ˌpɑliˈænθəs/

Inflections: Plural polyanthuses, unchanged, (occasionally) polyanthi.

Forms: 1600s–1700s polyanthos, 1600s– polyanthus.

Origin: A borrowing from Latin. Etymon: Latin polyanthus.

Etymology: < post-classical Latin polyanthus (see note; adopted in scientific Latin as the epithets of some species and hybrids) < poly- poly- comb. form + ancient Greek ἄνθος flower (see anthos n.).Compare the following example of the post-classical Latin word:1629 J. Parkinson Paradisi in Sole xxxv. 244 Paralysis altera odorata flore pallido polyanthos, the Primrose Cowslip.Compare earlier loan into post-classical Latin of ancient Greek πολυάνθεμος rich in flowers:1583 R. Dodoens Stirpium Historiæ 146 Primularum Veris una maior et polyanthemos.

A cultivated primula, probably originally derived from hybrids between the cowslip, Primula veris, and the primrose, P. vulgaris (and later P. juliae), bearing flowers of many different colours, chiefly in umbels on scapes.Most polyanthuses with P. juliae in their parentage are now known as Primula Pruhonicensis hybrids. The name Primula × polyantha is now reserved for naturally occurring hybrids of the cowslip and primrose, as the false oxlip.

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the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > particular flower or plant esteemed for flower > [noun] > primrose and allied flowers > primrose or auricula

primrosea1425

primula1526

petty mullein1578

bear's ear1597

bear's ear sanicle1597

bird's eye1597

mountain cowslip1597

rock rose1597

French cowslip1629

auricula1655

polyanthusa1678

polyanth1757

Scotch primrose1777

plumrose1787

plumrock1789

bird's eye primrose1796

Chinese primrose1825

dusty miller1825

Jack-in-the-box1850

Jack in the green1875

polyanthus primrose1882

boar's-ears-

a1678 T. Hanmer Garden Bk. (1933) p. xxii In the end are..polyanthuses and daffodils.

1727 R. Bradley Chomel's Dictionaire Oeconomique (Dublin ed.) at Flower You are now also to transplant your Seedling Polyanthos upon a shady Border, and divide the old Roots.

1781 R. B. Sheridan Critic ii. ii The vulgar wallflower, and smart gillyflower, The polyanthus mean, the dapper daisy.

1819 Amer. Farmer I. 120 The auricula and polyanthus seedlings, that were sown last autumn.., should be planted into boxes and pots.

1863 C. Kingsley Water-babies ii. 49 As smart as a gardener's dog with a polyanthus in his mouth.

1884 J. H. Ewing Mary's Meadow (1886) xi. 66 The time-honoured prescription, ‘Plant a primrose upside down, and it will come up a polyanthus’.

1970 R. Gorer Developm. Garden Flowers xiv. 230 For a long time the Polyanthus was a florists' flower and the ‘laced’ flowers, those whose petals had a yellow edge, were regarded as the most desirable.

1994 S. Dawson Forsytes (1996) ii. ii. 272 He plucked at a polyanthus in the trough.

Compounds

polyanthus narcissus n. now rare any of various narcissus species or cultivars that have the flowers in an umbel; esp. Narcissus tazetta (formerly N. polyanthus) or its hybrids.

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the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > particular flower or plant esteemed for flower > [noun] > daffodil and allied flowers > daffodil or narcissus

narcissusOE

daffodil1548

laus tibi1548

affodill1551

primrose peerless1578

narciss1586

jonquil1629

Spanish trumpet1664

hoop-petticoat1731

poet's narcissus?1786

poet's daffodil1798

Queen Anne's double jonquil1806

polyanthus narcissus1841

tazetta1847

sweet Nancy1848

polyanth narcissus1856

pheasant's eye1872

peerless primrose1884

Tenby daffodil1884

Queen Anne's daffodil1889

poetaz1906

1811 D. Hosack Hortus Elginensis (ed. 2) 38 [Narcissus] tazetta L. Polyanthus.]

1841 J. W. Loudon Ladies' Compan. to Flower Garden 190/1 The genus Narcissus is a very extensive one, embracing, as it does, the Jonquils, the Polyanthus Narcissus, the little Hoop Petticoat, [etc.].

1882 Garden 18 Feb. 119/2 The centre bed is filled with..pale-coloured Polyanthus Narcissus, and Lily of the Valley.

1994 M. Griffiths Index Garden Plants 771/1 N. tazetta L., Bunch-flowered Narcissi; Polyanthus Narcissi.

polyanthus primrose n. rare = main sense.

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