mesembryanthemum

noun me·sem·bry·an·the·mum \mə-ˌzem-brē-ˈan(t)-thə-məm\

Definition of MESEMBRYANTHEMUM

: any of a genus (Mesembryanthemum) of chiefly southern African fleshy-leaved herbs or subshrubs of the carpetweed family

New Latin, irregular from Greek mesēmbria midday (from mes- + hēmera day) + anthemon flower, from anthos — more at anthology

First Known Use: 1753

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