Orchises

1 definition found

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

  Orchis \Or"chis\, prop. n.; pl. {Orchises}. [L., fr. Gr. ? a
     testicle, the orchis; -- so called from its tubers.]
     [1913 Webster]
     1. (Bot.) A genus of endogenous plants growing in the North
        Temperate zone, and consisting of about eighty species.
        They are perennial herbs growing from a tuber (beside


        which is usually found the last year's tuber also), and
        are valued for their showy flowers. See {Orchidaceous}.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Bot.) Any plant of the same family with the orchis; an
        orchid.
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     Note: The common names, such as {bee orchis}, {fly orchis},
           {butterfly orchis}, etc., allude to the peculiar form
           of the flower.
           [1913 Webster]