freesia

/free"zhee euh, -zee euh, -zheuh/, n.

any of several plants belonging to the genus Freesia, of the iris family, native to southern Africa, having fragrant white, yellow, or sometimes rose-colored, tubular flowers.

[1880-85; < NL; named after E. M. Fries (1794-1878), Swedish botanist; see -IA]

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Any of the approximately 20 species of South African plants that make up the genus Freesia, in the iris family, with corms, grassy foliage, and wiry spikes of bell-like, lemon-scented flowers in white, yellow, orange, and blue.

The flower spikes usually turn at right angles from the stem, displaying the flowers in a horizontal line. Two species much used in hybridization are F. refracta, greenish-yellow to yellow or white, and F. armstrongii, tinged rose-purple. The plants are grown indoors in pots or in gardens in mild climates.

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▪ plant genus

 genus of about 20 species of South African plants of the iris family (Iridaceae), with bulblike structures (corms), grassy foliage, and wiry spikes of bell-like, lemon-scented flowers in white, yellow, orange, and blue. The approximately 60-centimetre- (2-foot-) tall flower spikes usually turn at right angles from the stem, displaying the flowers in a horizontal line.

      Two species much used in hybridization are F. refracta, greenish yellow to yellow or white, and F. armstrongii, tinged rose-purple. The plants are grown indoors in pots or in gardens in mild climates.

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