Definition

Noun: * A tall, herbaceous perennial plant (Macleaya cordata) native to East Asia, widely cultivated in gardens for its ornamental foliage and showy, plume-like clusters of small, creamy-white flowers.

Usage

• is a dramatic addition to the back of a perennial border.
• The feathery flower panicles of provide excellent vertical interest.
• Gardeners value for its large, deeply lobed leaves as much as for its blooms.

Advanced Usage

• In botanical and horticultural contexts, is often discussed for its vigorous, spreading habit via rhizomes.
• The plant is sometimes referenced for its historical use in traditional medicine and the alkaloids contained in its sap.

Variants and Related Words

• Plume poppy: A common name for .
• Bocconia: An older, sometimes used synonym for the genus .

Synonyms

• Plume poppy

Notes

• This is a specific botanical name (binomial nomenclature). It is typically written in italics, with the genus name () capitalized and the species epithet () in lowercase.

Noun

1. herb of China and Japan widely cultivated for its plumelike panicles of creamy white flowers