Osmanthus

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of flowering tree or shrub known for fragrant blossoms often used in perfumes and teas; the sweet-smelling flowers themselves; a symbol of autumn and noble character in various cultures
2. A plant species valued for its aromatic white or yellow flowers commonly utilized in scented products and culinary infusions; the blossoms emitted with distinct scent; culturally associated with seasonal change and elegance
3. An evergreen shrub or small tree producing highly fragrant flowers popular in horticulture and flavorings; the floral parts prized for aroma; traditionally representing refinement and the fall season in symbolism

Etymology: The fragrance of this shrub is so strong that its name is a compound of two Ancient Greek words meaning "smell" and "flower." The genus was named by the Portuguese Jesuit missionary João de Loureiro, who described it in 1790 in his botanical work on the flora of Cochinchina, the region of Vietnam where he worked. He formed the Latin name Osmanthus from the Greek "osmḗ" (smell) and "ánthos" (flower), describing the sweet scent of the species now called Osmanthus fragrans. The word is therefore a scientific coinage, not an ancient one: the Greeks had no plant called osmanthus, and the name dates only to the late eighteenth century. Its meaning in English is the plant's own name, and the fragrant blossoms that gave the genus its label are the part most people still know it for.

Synonyms: tea olive, fragrant olive