silene

noun

si·​le·​ne

sīˈlēnē

1

capitalized : a very large and widely distributed genus of plants (family Caryophyllaceae) having mostly showy flowers of various colors with a 10-nerved 5-toothed calyx and 3 styles and fruit with a capsule opening by 3 or 6 teeth see bladder campion, catchfly, moss campion, wild pink compare lychnis

2

plural -s : any plant of the genus Silene

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, probably from Latin silenus silenus

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