painted lady, noun phrase
- Origin:
- EnglishShow more Transferred use of general English painted lady the name of a variety of carnation; see also quotation 1966.
Any of several species of gladiolus.
1906 B. Stoneman Plants & their Ways 198Gladiolus...‘Painted Ladies’ and ‘Kalkoentjies’ belong here. Eighty-one species of this large genus are found in South Africa.
1985 Veld & Flora Vol.71 No.4 104It (sc. the sandlelie) would ‘go native’ there just as your own bavianis [sic]..painted ladies, kalkoentjies etc. have along Australian sand dunes.
Any of several species of gladiolus.
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