Definition

Noun: 1. A tropical plant species: A pantropical herb (Leonotis nepetifolia) characterized by whorls of striking, lipped flowers, which has become naturalized in parts of the United States. It is a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae).

Usage Notes

• The term "lion's-ear" is a common name for a specific flowering plant. It is typically used in botanical, gardening, and horticultural contexts.
• It functions as a singular, countable noun (e.g., , ).
• The name is often hyphenated, though it can sometimes be seen as two separate words ("lion's ear").

Examples

• Noun:
  • The vibrant orange flowers of the lion's-ear attracted many hummingbirds to the garden.
  • Lion's-ear is considered an invasive species in some regions due to its rapid growth.
  • She collected seeds from the lion's-ear to plant next season.

Advanced Usage

• The plant is also known by other common names, such as "klip dagga" or "Christmas candlestick," which may be used interchangeably in specific regional or cultural contexts.
• In traditional medicine in some cultures, extracts from lion's-ear have been used, though this is a specialized application of the term.

Variants and Related Words

• Leonotis nepetifolia: The botanical Latin name for the species.
• Klip dagga: A common alternative name, particularly in South Africa.
• Lamiaceae: The mint family, to which this plant belongs.

Synonyms

• Christmas candlestick (a common name based on the plant's appearance)
• Wild dagga (a related but distinct species is , often called "lion's tail" or "wild dagga"; note this is a different plant)

Different Meanings

• The term "lion's-ear" refers exclusively to this plant species. It is not used idiomatically to describe a part of a lion's anatomy; for that, the phrase "lion's ear" (without the hyphen, in a literal sense) would be used.

Noun

1. pantropical herb having whorls of striking lipped flowers; naturalized in United States