Definition

Noun 1. A genus of flowering shrubs: Calycanthus is the name of a genus of aromatic, deciduous shrubs in the family Calycanthaceae, native to North America and East Asia. These plants are known for their fragrant flowers and bark.

Examples of Usage

• The calycanthus in the botanical garden is also known as Carolina allspice or sweetshrub.
• We planted a Calycanthus floridus for its spicy-scented, maroon flowers.
• The bark of the calycanthus has a distinctive cinnamon-like aroma.

Advanced Usage

• In botanical taxonomy, the genus name Calycanthus is always capitalized and italicized when used in a scientific context.
  • The study focused on the pollination biology of Calycanthus.

Variants and Related Words

• Calycanthaceae (noun): The plant family to which the genus belongs.
• Carolina allspice (noun): A common name for .
• Sweetshrub (noun): Another common name for plants in the genus.

Synonyms

• Sweetshrub (common name)
• Strawberry-shrub (common name, for some species)
• Bubby bush (common name, archaic)

Notes on Different Meanings

• The word calycanthus refers specifically to the botanical genus. It should not be confused with the common spice "allspice" (), which is an unrelated tropical tree. The nickname "Carolina allspice" for comes from the similar scent of its crushed leaves and bark.

Noun

1. a magnoliid dicot genus of the family Calycanthaceae including: allspice