Selenipedium

noun

Se·​le·​ni·​pe·​di·​um

sə̇ˌlēnəˈpēdēəm

: a genus of large reedlike tropical American orchids that is closely related to Cypripedium and includes forms with pods used locally as a substitute for vanilla

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from selen- entry 1 + Greek pedion plain, flat surface

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!