forsythia

for·syth·ia

noun \fər-ˈsi-thē-ə, chiefly British -ˈsī-\

plural for·syth·ias also for·syth·ia

Definition of FORSYTHIA

: any of a genus (Forsythia) of ornamental shrubs of the olive family with opposite leaves and yellow bell-shaped flowers appearing before the leaves in early spring

Illustration of FORSYTHIA

Origin of FORSYTHIA

New Latin, from William Forsyth †1804 British botanist

First Known Use: circa 1814

forsythia

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Any of the seven species of ornamental shrubs that make up the genus Forsythia, in the olive family, native to eastern Europe and East Asia. In some species the yellow flowers borne along the stems appear before the leaves in early spring. The narrow leaves occasionally have three parts; the star-shaped flowers have four. Common forsythia (F. intermedia) has arching stems to about 20 ft (6 m) and bright yellow flowers.