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Glite Dictionary
dragonhead

dragonhead

9.9
A small herb with pointed saw-edged leaves and spikes of blue or violet flowers
  • noun
  • /ˈdræɡənˌhɛd/
  • US
translation icon : cabeza de dragón
  • Gardeners often choose dragonhead for its striking lance-shaped leaves and vibrant blooms.

Examples

  • The dragonhead prow of an ancient Viking ship cuts through the thick fog of the rough North Atlantic Sea.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • In the garden, the dragonhead plants produced beautiful spikes of blue flowers.

  • The herbal tea was infused with leaves from the dragonhead, adding a unique flavor.

Synonyms

dragon's head
vsdragonhead
  • US
9.9

A North American herb with long narrow toothed leaves and purple flower spikes

is the same herb but shown under a different common name
Dracocephalum parviflorum
vsdragonhead
  • Specialized
9.9

A North American mint herb with long pointed toothed leaves and spikes of blue or purple flowers

is the broader common name covering similar herbs, not only that species
Dracocephalum
vsdragonhead
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of small American plants with scented leaves called dragonheads

is the narrower common name for one herb within that genus

Compounds

false dragonhead
  • Specialized
9.3

A garden plant from North America with a tall stem of two-lipped pink or white flowers

Surface Forms

dragonhead singular
dragonheads plural

Morphology

dragonhead = dragon + head (semi-transparent) = dragon + head

The components 'dragon' + 'head' are literally visible, but the botanical sense (a plant named for a resemblance) is a specialized metaphor not directly inferable by learners.

Etymology

Dragonhead is exactly what it says: dragon + head, and the name comes from the plant's Latin name Dracocephalum, which means 'dragon head'. The spikes of flowers look like tiny dragon heads, so the name helps you remember this herb.