agapanthus, noun

/ˌæɡəˈpænθəs/
Forms:
Also with initial capital.
Plurals:
usually unchanged.
Origin:
Modern Latin, GreekShow more Modern Latin, from Greek agape love + anthos flower.
Any of several plants of the Liliaceae native to Africa, especially Agapanthus africanus, with umbels of white, blue, or lilac flowers, and sword-shaped leaves; the species so named; African Lily; blue lily. Also attributive.
1789 [see blue lily].
1817 Botanical Cabinet I. 42Agapanthus Minor..a native of the Cape of Good Hope..differs from umbellatus both in leaves and flowers.
1868 W.H. Harvey Genera of S. Afr. Plants 348Agapanthus, These are well known garden favourites. One is very common on the sides of Table mountain.
1874 G.M. Hopkins Jrnl (1937) 214A splendid thick-stemmed carnation-coloured lily called valotta..in the greenhouse next to an agapanthus.
1913 D. Fairbridge Piet of Italy 182He looked up and saw Nissa standing in the doorway, her arms filled with scarlet crassulas and blue agapanthus lilies.
1924 D. Fairbridge Gardens of S. Afr. 86Neither Romneya nor Agapanthus has been given a drop of water for months, and yet they are flourishing.
1967 E. Rosenthal Encycl. of Sn Afr. 10Agapanthus or African Lily, A strong plant with a showy umbel of blue flowers above a mass of thick sword-shaped leaves.
1988 N. Gardiner in S. Afr. Garden & Home June 108An unbroken wave of pale blue sweeps through in late spring, brought about by many thousands of agapanthus which make a spectacular sight, rivalling any bluebell woods.
1989 Woman’s Focus (Spar) 2Agapanthus are bulbous plants with several stems attached to a hard underground plate-like stem with roots below.
Any of several plants of the Liliaceae native to Africa, especially Agapanthus africanus, with umbels of white, blue, or lilac flowers, and sword-shaped leaves; the species so named; African Lily; blue lily. Also attributive.
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ag, interjectionint.agretjie, nounn.
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