Hexace

/ˈhɛksəs/ noun

Definition

A plant of the mallow family, though this term is now largely obsolete in botanical classification.

Etymology

From Latin 'hexacis,' derived through medieval botanical terminology. The exact origin is uncertain but may relate to Greek 'hexa-' if the plant had six-part flowers.

Kelly Says

This word is practically extinct in modern science—a ghost word that linguists find in old plant catalogs, reminding us that taxonomy keeps getting updated as we learn more.

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