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columnea

noun
co·​lum·​nea | \ kəˈləmnēə\

Definition of columnea

1 capitalized : a genus of tropical American evergreen herbs or subshrubs (family Gesneriaceae) that are often creeping or climbing, have thick opposite hairy leaves frequently unequal and somewhat toothed, produce axillary solitary or clustered yellow to scarlet flowers, and include several forms cultivated for their flowers and ornamental foliage
2 plural -s : any plant of the genus Columnea

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History and Etymology for columnea

New Latin, after Fabio Colonna (Latinized as Columna) †about 1640 Italian scholar

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