Amaryllid

/əˈmærɪlɪd/ noun

Definition

A plant belonging to the amaryllis family, including daffodils, narcissus, and true amaryllis flowers.

Etymology

From Amaryllis (a name from Greek pastoral poetry meaning 'sparkling') plus the suffix -id (from Latin -idus, meaning 'of or belonging to'). The suffix was adapted for botanical classification to indicate family membership.

Kelly Says

Amaryllids are named after a shepherdess in ancient Greek poetry, which shows how Linnaeus borrowed literary names for plants—it's like he was reading Shakespeare while inventing modern botanical classification.

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