Decumaria

/ˌdɛkjuˈmɛriə/ noun

Definition

A genus of climbing shrubs native to southeastern North America, characterized by white flowers and aerial rootlets.

Etymology

From Latin decumanus (relating to ten), likely referring to the ten-petaled flowers or some other ten-related characteristic of the plant. Botanical nomenclature often uses Latin roots.

Kelly Says

Decumaria is a climbing vine you might see on old buildings in the South—it has these tiny aerial rootlets that stick to walls like Velcro, and botanists named it 'decumaria' for its perfect ten-petaled flowers.

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