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

Scientists say the flora has made some extreme adjustments to its metabolism. — Roni Dengler, Science | AAAS, "Mistletoe is missing the machinery to make energy," 3 May 2018 Various suits both painted and embroidered with the flora and fauna to be found in the gardens were hat tips to the 19th century collectors who had once fluttered through. — Luke Leitch, Vogue, "Male Patterned Boldness: Dolce & Gabbana’s Alta Sartoria Ode to Villa Carlotta," 9 July 2018 From eucalyptus trees to ring-necked pheasants and zebra mussels, introduced species often compete with native flora and fauna for habitat and food. — Ursula K. Heise, WIRED, "Endangered Species and the Case for ‘Sanctuary Cities’," 10 June 2018 Clear, still waters with nary a ripple breaking the surface hugged by ancient sandstone cliffs flecked with lush, green flora instantly transport you to a place of serenity. — Carla Minsky, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Travel is Good for the Soul," 10 June 2018 With its bustling harbor, world-class beaches, top-notch vineyards, and its mountainous surroundings brimming with diverse flora and fauna, Cape Town consistently captivates the hearts of all who visit. — Julian Harrison, Town & Country, "How to Plan a Trip to Africa," 5 Oct. 2016 Waight Keller didn’t specify if that included the veil, which was 16 feet long and embroidered with flora of commonwealth countries. — Sarah Spellings, The Cut, "Meghan Markle’s Dress Took Insanely Long to Create," 21 May 2018 The designs include Folkland, an enchanted scene of flora and fauna, Vreeland, which pays homage to the fashion icon in 1970s glory, and Kimono, which features a chair-scale pattern with an Asian-inspiration. — Jen Derose, House Beautiful, "Global Style: Robert Allen and DwellStudio's New Fabric Collection," 3 Oct. 2013 During Flower Piano, the groundskeepers concentrate their weed-pulling efforts around the instruments, not around the flora. — Steve Rubenstein, SFChronicle.com, "SF’s Flower Piano: Harmonies among the hydrangeas," 5 July 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.