noun
camellia
kuh-MEE-lee-uh/kəˈmiːliə/
An evergreen shrub or small tree with glossy leaves and showy flowers.
A pink camellia blooms among glossy dark green leaves.
Etymology
The name combines Kamel’s Latinized surname with a noun ending used in flower names. Linnaeus named the genus in honor of the man who described Luzon’s flora.
In context
these billowy petals of all different colors and patterns. The sheer beauty of it, there is an entire camellia society where they get together and talk about how to grow camellias
More examples
- The gardener planted a camellia beside the sheltered wall.
- Several camellias flowered before the rest of the garden.
- A fallen camellia blossom lay on the wet path.
Forms
camellia · camellias
Similar words
- azalea
- Another flowering shrub, but botanically distinct from camellia.