flora

noun

flo·ra | \ˈflȯr-ə

plural floras also florae\ˈflȯr-ˌē,

-ˌī \

Definition of flora

1 : a treatise on or list of the plants of an area or period

2 : plant, bacterial, or fungal life especially : such life characteristic of a region, period, or special environment fossil flora intestinal flora — compare fauna

Synonyms Flora Has Roots in Roman Mythology Example Sentences Learn More about flora

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Flora Has Roots in Roman Mythology

Flora means "flower" in Latin, and Flora was the Roman goddess of spring and flowering plants, especially wildflowers and plants not raised for food. She was shown as a beautiful young woman in a long, flowing dress with flowers in her hair, strewing flowers over the earth. English preserves her name in such words as floral, floret, and flourish. A region's flora may range from tiny violets to towering trees. The common phrase "flora and fauna" covers just about every visible living thing.

Examples of flora in a Sentence

an amazing variety of coastal flora the floras of different coastal regions

Recent Examples on the Web

When Markle married Prince Harry in May 2018, the design of her veil featured flora from all 53 Commonwealth countries, along with wintersweet for Kensington Palace and California poppies for her home state. — Eliza Brooke, Vox, "Princess Eugenie’s royal wedding: a fashion FAQ," 12 Oct. 2018 Next spring, conservationists and volunteers will plant native flora across the span, hoping the plants will make for an inviting destination. — Evan Bush, The Seattle Times, "‘It’s a long time coming’: $6.2 million wildlife bridge over I-90 nears completion," 25 Sep. 2018 Horticulture is everywhere in the design, from tree branch chandeliers to wooden butcher-block tabletops, and plenty of seasonal flora on display. — Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, "18 Best Restaurants in Boston," 16 July 2018 In addition to the flora of the Commonwealth, Meghan also selected two personal favorites: Wintersweet, which grows in the grounds of Kensington Palace in front of Nottingham Cottage, and the California Poppy the State flower of California. — Marina Liao, Marie Claire, "You Need to See Meghan Markle and Princess Diana Side-by-Side on Their Wedding Days," 19 May 2018 The tiny flecks peppered the jungle flora with a light patter. — Tom Stienstra, San Francisco Chronicle, "Adventures in the shadow of nature’s greatest powers," 29 Apr. 2018 India’s textile industry grew out of sophisticated husbandry and deeply artisanal handling of its bountiful flora and fauna. — Laura Jacobs, WSJ, "‘The Fabric of India’ Review: A Nation’s Interwoven History," 27 Oct. 2018 Data on flora and fauna will also net you some basic currency. — Steven Strom, Ars Technica, "With NEXT update, No Man’s Sky finally brings it all together," 6 Aug. 2018 This 311-acre natural area features a diversity of both flora and fauna, and nature education classes. — Mary Mills Heidbrink, San Antonio Express-News, "San Antonio offers multitude of choices for getting back to nature," 11 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'flora.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.