n. Any of numerous plants of the genus Penstemon, native to North America, having opposite leaves, variously colored flowers with a usually two-lipped corolla, and capsules containing many seeds. Also called beardtongue. [New Latin Pēnstēmōn, genus name : Greek pente, five; see penkwe in the Appendix of Indo-European roots + Greek stēmōn, thread (in reference to its four fertile stamens and single prominent staminode ); see stā- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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