prince's-plume
Noun: 1. A tall, showy tropical American annual plant (Amaranthus hybridus hypochondriacus or related species) characterized by hairy stems, leaves with deep purple undersides, and long spikes of typically red flowers. Its seeds are often used as a cereal grain. 2. A perennial plant (Stanleya pinnata) of the southwestern United States, having leathery, blue-green, pinnatifid leaves and thick, plume-like spikes of yellow flowers. 3. An annual plant (Polygala virgata or related species) with broadly ovate leaves and slender, drooping spikes of crimson flowers, native to southeastern Asia and Australia and naturalized in North America.
The term "prince's-plume" is a common name applied to several distinct plant species from different genera. The correct species is determined by context, specifically geographical location and description of the flowers and leaves. It is primarily used in horticultural, botanical, and descriptive naturalist contexts.
- The garden's border was spectacular with the vibrant red spikes of prince's-plume.
- In the arid landscape of Utah, the yellow prince's-plume was in full bloom.
- Botanists noted the naturalization of the crimson-flowered prince's-plume along the coastal path.
- The name is often used in compound form to specify the plant further, such as "desert prince's-plume" for .
- In taxonomic writing, the common name "prince's-plume" is typically followed by the scientific binomial in italics for clarity on first reference.
- Prince's-feather: A common variant name for the same group of plants, particularly .
- Desert prince's-plume: A specific name for .
- Stanleya pinnata: The scientific name for the yellow-flowered perennial of the southwestern US.
- Amaranthus: The genus containing the red-flowered annual species often called prince's-plume.
- Prince's-feather (for the species)
- Desert plume (for )
The term refers exclusively to the specified plants. It is not used idiomatically or in other contexts. The meaning is always botanical.
-
tall showy tropical American annual having hairy stems and long spikes of usually red flowers above leaves deeply flushed with purple; seeds often used as cereal
-
perennial of southwestern United States having leathery blue-green pinnatifid leaves and thick plumelike spikes of yellow flowers; sometimes placed in genus Cleome
-
annual with broadly ovate leaves and slender drooping spikes of crimson flowers; southeastern Asia and Australia; naturalized in North America
