Skip to main content
Monarda fistulosa

Monarda fistulosa

9.6
A plant from North America that lives for many years and has fragrant leaves and purple flowers
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Monarda fistulosa
  • The garden was filled with Monarda fistulosa, attracting bees and butterflies in the summer.

Examples

  • Herbal tea made from Monarda fistulosa is prized for its minty flavor and calming properties.

  • Researchers studied the medicinal properties of Monarda fistulosa growing in prairie habitats.

  • The Monarda fistulosa attracts many pollinators.

  • Have you seen the Monarda fistulosa in bloom?

  • Herbal tea made from Monarda fistulosa is prized for its minty flavor and calming properties.

  • The garden was filled with Monarda fistulosa, attracting bees and butterflies in the summer.

  • Researchers studied the medicinal properties of Monarda fistulosa growing in prairie habitats.

Synonyms

bee balm
vsMonarda fistulosa
  • US
1 7.4

A garden herb with bright scented flowers that attract bees and butterflies

is the native wild herb rather than the garden cultivated variety
wild bergamot
vsMonarda fistulosa
  • US
7.5

A North American plant with purple or pink flowers used for tea and in gardens

is the scientific botanical name for this same aromatic herb
beebalm
vsMonarda fistulosa
  • US
9.2

A garden herb with bright tube-shaped flowers that attract bees and butterflies

is the wild native herb rather than the cultivated garden form

Surface Forms

Morphology

monarda + fistulosa

This is a taxonomic binomial: combining the genus name 'Monarda' (an aromatic herb) with a Latin species epithet. Knowing both constituents allows a learner to infer it denotes a particular Monarda plant (and that the epithet likely describes a morphological trait), but it does not directly yield the common name, range, or full description given in the definition. Because the scientific name partially but not fully conveys the familiar meaning, it is best classified as semi-transparent.

Etymology

Monarda fistulosa gets its name from a Spanish plant writer, Monarda, and the Latin word fistulosa, which means 'hollow'. The 'hollow' part points to the plant's thin hollow stems, so the name fits this minty herb with purple flowers.