Definition

Noun: 1. A perennial herb (Dictamnus albus): A Eurasian plant of the rue family, having showy white or pink flowers and glandular leaves that emit a flammable, aromatic vapor in hot, still weather. Also commonly called "fraxinella" or "burning bush".

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The gas plant in the botanical garden is known for its unique ability to release a flammable vapor.
  • On a hot, windless evening, you can sometimes ignite the vapor around a gas plant without harming the plant itself.
  • She planted a gas plant in her sunny border because of its attractive flowers and unusual characteristic.

Advanced Usage

• The term gas plant is used almost exclusively to refer to the specific herb due to its remarkable property. It is a common name, not a scientific classification.
• The phenomenon occurs because the plant's leaves and flowers secrete volatile, aromatic oils that can ignite briefly in very hot, calm conditions.

Variants and Related Words

• Fraxinella (n): Another common name for the same plant ().
• Burning bush (n): Another common name for . (Note: This name is also used for other, unrelated plants, such as ).
• Dictamnus albus (n): The scientific (Latin) name for the gas plant.

Synonyms

• Dittany (n): A name sometimes used, though it can also refer to other aromatic plants.
• Flame plant (n): A descriptive, less common synonym.

Notes on Meaning

• The term gas plant is not used to refer to industrial facilities that produce or process gas (e.g., natural gas plants). Those are compound nouns where "gas" modifies "plant." This entry is solely for the botanical sense of the herb.

Noun

1. Eurasian perennial herb with white flowers that emit flammable vapor in hot weather