ruellia

noun

ru·​el·​lia

rüˈelēə

1

capitalized : a very large genus of chiefly tropical American herbs and shrubs (family Acanthaceae) that have showy solitary or paniculate flowers with the simple or 2-lobed style recurved at the apex and the ovary 2-celled

2

plural -s : any plant or flower of the genus Ruellia

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Jean Ruel (latinized Ruellius) †1539 French physician and botanist + New Latin -ia

First Known Use

1751, in the meaning defined above

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