sore-eye flower, noun phrase

Origin:
According to C.A. Smith (1966), ‘derived from a popular tradition that long staring at the inflorescence or flower..produces sore eyes’; but see also quotation 1917.
Any of several plants of the Amaryllidaceae: a. Any of several species of Brunsvigia; see also candelabra sense 1. b. Boophone disticha; also called gifbol. c. Nerine. d. The Knysna lily (sense a), Cyrtanthus obliquus. e. Any of several species of Ammocharis. Also elliptical, sore-eye.
1910 E. London Dispatch 27 May 5 (Pettman)A large Cyrtanthus or sore-eye flower (though why so called we have yet to learn).
1917 R. Marloth Dict. of Common Names of Plants 76Sore-eye flower, Numerous Amaryllidaceae bear this name, owing to the irritation of the eyes, caused by the pollen, e.g. Brunsvigia gigantea, Buphane ciliaris etc.
1953 J. Hoyle Some Flowers of Bush 2Sore-eye, Buphone disticha — Amaryllidaceae. This plant is often confused with the Fireball (Haemanthus).
1953 J. Hoyle Some Flowers of Bush 3The Flowers of Sore-eye are larger, and much fewer, than those of the Fireball.
1961 Redwing (St Andrew’s College, Grahamstown) 3On the banks of a certain stream a scattering of ‘sore-eye’ flowers grew (ammocharis coranica).
1966 C.A. Smith Common Names 429Sore-eye flower, Brunsvigia orientalis.., Perhaps also other species enumerated under Seeroogblom.
1975 J.M. Gibson Wild Flowers of Natal 13Boophane distichia..(Sore Eye Flower). I had to hurry drawing this flower because my eyes were so sore.
1982 A. Moriarty Outeniqua Tsitsikamma 46Boophane disticha, Sore-eye Flower, Seeroogblom.
1982 [see Knysna lily sense a].
Any of several species of Brunsvigia;
Boophone disticha; also called gifbol.
The Knysna lily (sense a), Cyrtanthus obliquus.
Any of several species of Ammocharis. Also elliptical, sore-eye.
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