dahlia

dahlia (däl`yə, dăl`–) [for Anders Dahl, 1751–89, Swedish botanist and pupil of Linnaeus], any plant of the genus Dahlia of the family Asteraceae (aster family), tuberous-rooted perennials native to Mexico and Guatemala and widely cultivated in gardens. Most of the several thousand horticultural varieties have been developed from the single species (D. pinnata) of garden dahlia introduced into cultivation in England c.1800, but other species and hybrids, e.g., the cactus dahlia (D. juarezii) are also grown. Dahlias are stout and rather woody plants, some species reaching the stature of small trees, with late-blooming flowers in a wide range of colors and sizes. The tubers of the garden dahlia were one source of fructose, used by diabetics. Dahlias are classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida, order Asterales, family Asteraceae.

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dahlia

Any of the 12–20 species of tuberous-rooted herbaceous plants that make up the genus Dahlia, in the composite family, native to higher elevations of Mexico and Central America. The leaves of most are segmented and toothed or cut. About six species have been bred for cultivation as ornamental flowers. Wild species have both disk and ray flowers in the flowering heads, but many varieties of ornamentals, such as the common garden dahlia (D. bipinnata), have shortened ray flowers. Dahlia flowers may be white, yellow, red, or purple.

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dahlia

1. any herbaceous perennial plant of the Mexican genus Dahlia, having showy flowers and tuberous roots, esp any horticultural variety derived from D. pinnata: family Asteraceae (composites)

2. the flower or root of any of these plants

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dahlia

symbol of dignity. [Flower Symbolism: Jobes, 406]

See : Dignity

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dahlia

represents elegance. [Flower Symbolism: Jobes, 406]

See : Elegance

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dahlia

of Mexico. [Flower Symbolism: WB, 7: 264]

See : Flower Or Plant, National

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dahlia

symbol of splendor. [Plant Symbolism: Flora Symbolica, 168]

See : Splendor