noun
aromatic annual with a tall stems of small whitish flowers enclosed in a greatly enlarged saucer-shaped or bell-shaped calyx
• Syn: ↑molucca balm, ↑Molucella laevis
• Hypernyms: ↑herb, ↑herbaceous plant
• Member Holonyms: ↑Molucella, ↑genus Molucella
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Usage: usually capitalized I
Etymology: so called from the green bell-shaped calyx
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a plant, Molucella laevis, native to western Asia, having inconspicuous white flowers, each surrounded by an enlarged green calyx. Also called shellflower.
[1955-60; so called from the bell-like green calyx]
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bells of Ireland
An annual plant (Moluccella laevis) with white flowers and green bell-shaped calyxes, sometimes used in dried-flower arrangements
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Main Entry: ↑bell
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bells of Ireland,
a hardy annual plant with whitish flowers having enlarged, bell-shaped, chartreuse green calyxes.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.