chrysanthemum

chry·san·the·mum

noun \kri-ˈsan(t)-thə-məm also -ˈzan(t)-\

: a plant that has brightly colored flowers and that is often grown in gardens; also : the flower of this plant

Full Definition of CHRYSANTHEMUM

1

:  any of various composite plants (genus Chrysanthemum) including weeds, ornamentals grown for their brightly colored often double flower heads, and others important as sources of medicinals and insecticides

2

:  a flower head of an ornamental chrysanthemum

Illustration of CHRYSANTHEMUM

Origin of CHRYSANTHEMUM

Latin, from Greek chrysanthemon, from chrys- + anthemon flower; akin to Greek anthos flower

First Known Use: 1548

chrysanthemum

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Any of the ornamental plants that make up the genus Chrysanthemum, in the aster family (Asteraceae). The genus includes about 100 species native primarily to subtropical and temperate areas of the Old World. Cultivated species, often called mums, have large flower heads; those of wild species are much smaller. Most species have aromatic, alternate leaves. Some have both disk and ray flowers in the heads; others lack ray flowers. Costmary (C. balsamita), marguerite, Shasta daisy (hybrid forms of C. maximum), florists' chrysanthemum (C. morifolium), feverfew (C. parthenium), corn marigold (C. segetum), and tansy are popular garden plants. Feverfew is used in insecticides; feverfew and tansy were formerly used in medicines.