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Glite Dictionary
Hesperis matronalis

Hesperis matronalis

9.9
A plant from Europe and Asia that grows in gardens and wild places with sweet-smelling purple or white flowers
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Hesperis matronalis
  • The Hesperis matronalis in her garden gave off a sweet scent at dusk.

Examples

  • Many wildflower mixes now include Hesperis matronalis for its fragrant spring blooms.

  • Botanists noted that Hesperis matronalis has spread widely across North America.

  • The Hesperis matronalis is beautiful.

  • I love Hesperis matronalis!

  • Many wildflower mixes now include Hesperis matronalis for its fragrant spring blooms.

  • The Hesperis matronalis in her garden gave off a sweet scent at dusk.

  • Botanists noted that Hesperis matronalis has spread widely across North America.

Synonyms

sweet rocket
vsHesperis matronalis
  • UK
1 8.9

A tall garden plant with strong sweet-smelling purple or white flowers that smell at night

is the formal scientific name for the same plant
Dame's violet
vsHesperis matronalis
9.2

A plant that lives several years with sweet flowers that smell stronger in the evening

is the scientific name used instead of this common name
damask violet
vsHesperis matronalis
8.8

A tall garden plant with sweet smelling flowers that become stronger in the evening

is the scientific label rather than this cultivated or regional name

How Fragrant

jasmine
51 2.7
lilac
26 1.6
Hesperis matronalis
  • Specialized
9.9
violet
  • Specialized
23 1.0
pansy
2 2.6

Surface Forms

Hesperis matronalis singular
Hesperis matronalis plural

Morphology

Hesperis + matronalis

This is a Latin botanical binomial rather than a phrase built from ordinary English words; knowing 'Hesperis' as a genus (and with 'matronalis' not attested in the learner's dictionary) does not allow a B1 learner to infer the common-name meaning 'dame's violet'. Scientific names function as lexical labels and are not compositionally interpretable by typical learners, so the expression is not transparent.

Etymology

Hesperis matronalis may come from old words meaning Hesperis 'evening' and matronalis 'of the women'. People noticed the flowers give a sweet smell at dusk, so they called it 'dame's violet' and the name stayed for this fragrant garden flower.