smoke bush
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A shrub with a distinctive appearance: A "smoke bush" is a type of shrub known for its unique, feathery flower clusters. These clusters are often so large and hazy that they resemble a cloud of smoke surrounding the plant. 2. A member of specific genera: The term can refer to shrubs from two different botanical groups, both valued for their ornamental, smoke-like plumes.
Detailed Meanings
- Primary Ornamental Meaning: Most commonly, "smoke bush" refers to shrubs from the genus , such as . These are cultivated for their showy, billowy panicles of tiny flowers and sometimes for their colorful foliage.
- Botanical Meaning: It can also refer to shrubs from the Australian genus , which produce panicles of woolly, often white flowers that create a similar smoky effect.
Examples
- The smoke bush at the corner of the garden turns a brilliant red in autumn.
- We planted a purple-leaved smoke bush for its dramatic summer blossoms.
- Some Australian smoke bush species have flowers that look like puffs of white smoke.
Advanced Usage
- "In full smoke": Describing the plant when its characteristic plumes are fully developed and most visible.
- The garden is spectacular in July when the smoke bush is in full smoke.
Variants and Related Words
- Smoke tree: Often used interchangeably with "smoke bush," though it may imply a larger, tree-like growth habit, particularly for species.
- Cotinus: The botanical genus name for the most common ornamental smoke bushes.
- Conospermum: The botanical genus name for the Australian smoke bushes.
Synonyms
- Venetian sumac (A common name for ).
- Chittamwood (A regional name for some species).
Noun
- any of various shrubs of the genus Conospermum with panicles of mostly white woolly flowers
- any of several shrubs or shrubby trees of the genus Cotinus