love-lies-bleeding
Noun 1. A tall, ornamental annual plant (Amaranthus caudatus): A garden plant known for its long, drooping, rope-like clusters of tiny red or purple flowers that resemble tassels or cords. 2. The distinctive flower clusters of this plant: The long, hanging, often crimson inflorescences that give the plant its common name.
- As a common name for a specific plant species.
- Used in gardening, horticulture, and botanical contexts.
- The name is often written with hyphens: .
- "We planted love-lies-bleeding along the garden fence for a dramatic, cascading effect."
- "The deep red tassels of the love-lies-bleeding added a touch of Victorian charm to the flower bed."
- "Love-lies-bleeding is also known by other names, such as tassel flower or velvet flower."
- The plant's Latin name is . The genus name comes from the Greek for "unfading," referring to the long-lasting flowers.
- The evocative common name "love-lies-bleeding" is thought to be derived from the appearance of its drooping, blood-red flower clusters.
- Tassel flower: A common alternative name for the same plant, describing the shape of its blooms.
- Velvet flower: Another name, referring to the soft texture of the flower clusters.
- Amaranth: The broader genus to which this plant belongs. Some amaranth species are cultivated for their edible seeds and leaves.
- Cockscomb (): A different but visually related ornamental plant with crested flower heads.
- Tassel flower
- Velvet flower
- (scientific name)
- Foxtail amaranth (less common)
The provided reference context ("young leaves widely used as leaf vegetables; seeds used as cereal") primarily describes the uses of plants in the broader Amaranth genus. While love-lies-bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus) is an amaranth and its leaves and seeds are technically edible, its primary modern use in English-speaking regions is ornamental. It is chiefly valued and recognized as a distinctive garden flower, not as a staple food crop. The core definition focuses on its identity as a flowering plant.
- young leaves widely used as leaf vegetables; seeds used as cereal