Oleander

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˌəʊliˈændə(ɹ)/

Definitions

1. A flowering shrub native to warm areas, recognized for its vibrant blossoms and toxic components, frequently used in garden design despite health risks
2. This ornamental plant, celebrated for its striking flowers and dangerous nature, grows well in subtropical zones and is often chosen for landscaping purposes
3. A highly ornamental shrub that thrives in warm climates, known for its beautiful yet toxic flowers, commonly used in decorative landscaping despite its hazardous properties

Etymology: The most striking thing about "oleander" is that its name seems to have started life as a mangled version of another plant name entirely. Medieval Latin speakers used "oleandru," and the Late Latin form it came from, "lorandrum," is thought to be an alteration of "rhododendron," the name of a different flowering shrub. How a rhododendron became a rose-laurel lies in the scribal and speech changes that reshaped the word over the centuries, and the exact steps remain uncertain. The word then passed into French as "oléandre" before reaching English. Its ancestry is therefore a chain of borrowings, each adjusting the sound and spelling a little more, rather than a clear description of the plant itself. The shrub, a native of warm regions around the Mediterranean and beyond, has long been prized in gardens for its showy blossoms, even though every part of it contains toxic compounds.

Synonyms: rosebay, Nerium oleander