starflowern.
/ˈstɑːˌflaʊə/, U.S. /ˈstɑrˌflaʊər/ 1. Any of various plants with bright stellate flowers, esp. those of the genera Ornithogalum (family Asparagaceae) or (U.S.) Trientalis (family Primulaceae). Occasionally with distinguishing word. In botanical works, often glossing the names Stellaria and Aster.
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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] > names applied to various flowers
heliotropec1000
flower jaunette1423
helichrysum1551
sunflower1562
Armeria1578
hyacinth1578
pimpernel1578
vaccin1589
heliochryse1593
purple1604
sunflower1622
mayflower1626
starflower1629
bluebottle1648
pink1731
trumpet-flower1732
fly-wort1753
witches' thimbles1820
honey plant1824
black-eyed Susan1836
shell-flower1845
pincushion1847
pincushion flower1856
nightingale1862
garland-flower1866
paper-white1880
1629 J. Parkinson Paradisi in Sole 134 The kindes of Starre-flowers, or Starres of Bethlehem, as they are called.
1633 T. Johnson Gerard's Herball (new ed.) ii. 489 I could neuer yet finde nor heare of any of these Starfloures to grow wilde in this kingdome, but haue often seene the Italian Starwort growing in gardens.
1664 J. Evelyn Kalendarium Hortense 67 in Sylva Stock-gilly-flowers, Spanish Nut, Star-flower [etc.].
?1711 J. Petiver Gazophylacii IX. Table 85 Blush Cape Star-flower.
1716 J. Mortimer Whole Art Husbandry (ed. 4) II. 238 Star-Flowers are of several sorts, as the Star-Flower of Arabia, the great white Star-Flower of Bethlehem [etc].
1771 J. R. Forster Flora Amer. Septentrionalis 15 Hypoxis erecta. Bastard star-flower, upright. Virginia.
1829 A. H. Lincoln Familiar Lect. Bot. xxxii. 170 We find here the Star-flower, (Aster,) a genus in which 120 species have already been discovered.
1856 A. Gray Man. Bot. Northern U.S. (ed. 2) 272 Trientalis Americana..Star-flower.
1890 Sarum Dioc. Gaz. Jan. 6/1 ‘Star-flower’ prettily describes the golden spangles of the Tormentil.
1934 Times 24 July 1/7 (advt.) Bunches of remarkably beautiful white starflowers, fine for rockery, border, and mass-planting.
1973 Vermont Life Fall 44/1 Among shrubs and flowering plants within the swamp are mountain holly, withe rod, black alder, partridge berry, gold thread, wild sarsaparilla and starflower.
2004 J. Emsley Vanity, Vitality, & Virility ii. 45 Linolenic acid..is even more abundant in the seed oils of the borage plant (starflower) accounting for around 20%.
2. sea star-flower: see sea star-flower n. at sea n. Compounds 6d.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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