Definition

Noun: * A fast-growing, softwood tree (Sesbania grandiflora) known for its large, showy, typically red or pink flowers that hang in loose clusters (racemes). It is native to tropical regions of Australia and Asia and has been introduced to other warm areas like southern Florida and the West Indies.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The vegetable hummingbird is often planted for its ornamental flowers.
  • In some cultures, the flowers and young pods of the vegetable hummingbird are eaten as a vegetable.
  • A vegetable hummingbird can grow very quickly in suitable tropical climates.

Advanced Usage

• The name "vegetable hummingbird" is primarily a common name used in horticulture and botany. In formal contexts, the scientific name is preferred.
• The term highlights two key features: "vegetable" refers to the edible parts of the plant, and "hummingbird" alludes to the shape of its flowers, which are attractive to pollinators like birds.

Variants and Related Words

• Sesbania grandiflora (n): The formal botanical name for the vegetable hummingbird.
• Agati (n): Another common name for this tree, used particularly in South Asia.
• Hummingbird tree (n): A simpler variant of the common name.

Synonyms

• Agati
• Hummingbird tree
• Sesbania

Notes on Meaning

• This is a specific term for a single species of tree. It is not a general term for any plant visited by hummingbirds.
• The "vegetable" component of the name is descriptive of its use as a food crop, not a taxonomic classification (it is a legume tree, not a vegetable in the culinary sense like a carrot or lettuce).

Noun

1. a softwood tree with lax racemes of usually red or pink flowers; tropical Australia and Asia; naturalized in southern Florida and West Indies