odontoglossum

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a showy tropical American orchid formerly classified in the genus Odontoglossum, now generally placed within Oncidium

   The conservatory's odontoglossum produced a spray of pink and scarlet flowers.

From the New Latin genus name Odontoglossum, formed from Greek odont- ("tooth") + glossa ("tongue"). The name refers to toothlike calluses on the flower's tongue-shaped lip. Modern Kew taxonomy treats Odontoglossum as a synonym of Oncidium.

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