Asphodel

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Asphodel \As"pho*del\, n. [L. asphodelus, Gr. ?. See
     {Daffodil}.] (Bot.)
     A general name for a plant of the genus {Asphodelus}. The
     asphodels are hardy perennial plants, several species of
     which are cultivated for the beauty of their flowers.
     [1913 Webster]


  
     Note: The name is also popularly given to species of other
           genera. The asphodel of the early English and French
           poets was the daffodil. The asphodel of the Greek poets
           is supposed to be the {Narcissus poeticus}. --Dr.
           Prior.
           [1913 Webster]
  
                 Pansies, and violets, and asphodel. --Milton.
           [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  asphodel
       n : any of various chiefly Mediterranean plants of the genera
           Asphodeline and Asphodelus having linear leaves and
           racemes of white or pink or yellow flowers