Definition

Noun 1. A species of flowering plant in the lily family (Liliaceae) native to northwestern America: Fritillaria affinis is a perennial herb known for its distinctive, nodding, bell-shaped flowers which are typically checkered or mottled with shades of green and purple.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The forest floor was dotted with the unique blooms of Fritillaria affinis.
  • Botanists study the habitat requirements of Fritillaria affinis to aid in its conservation.
  • This particular bulb is Fritillaria affinis, often called the checker lily.

Advanced Usage

• In botanical taxonomy: The name is used in its full binomial form () to precisely identify the species within the genus .
  • The specimen was keyed out and confirmed to be Fritillaria affinis.

Variants and Related Words

• Checker Lily (n): A common name for , referring to the checkered pattern on its petals.
• Mission Bells (n): Another common name for this plant.
• Fritillaria (n): The genus to which this species belongs, comprising other bulbous flowering plants commonly known as fritillaries.

Synonyms

• Checker Lily
• Mission Bells

Notes on Meaning

This term refers specifically to a single botanical species. It does not have idiomatic meanings or phrasal verbs associated with it, as it is a proper scientific name.

Noun

1. herb of northwestern America having green-and-purple bell-shaped flowers