Wisteria

wisteria (wĭstēr`ēə) or wistaria (–târ`–), any plant of the genus Wisteria, woody twining vines of the family Leguminosae (pulse family), cultivated and highly esteemed for the beautiful pendent clusters of pealike flowers, lilac, white, or pink. There are two species (W. frutescens and W. macrostachya) native to the United States, found mostly in the Southeast, but the showier Asian species are the most commonly cultivated. One variety of the Japanese wisteria (W. floribunda var. macrobotrys) has flower clusters up to 3 ft (1 m) long. Wisteria is classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida, order Rosales, family Leguminosae.

---

wisteria

 or wistaria

Any of the twining, usually woody vines that make up the genus Wisteria, of the pea family (see legume), native mostly to Asia and North America. The leaves are pinnately compound (feathery). They are widely cultivated for their attractive spreading growth and beautiful, profuse flowers (blue, purple, rose, or white), which grow in large, drooping clusters. American wisteria (W. frutescens) and Kentucky wisteria (W. macrostachya) are native to the U.S.

---

wisteria

any twining leguminous woody climbing plant of the genus Wisteria, of E Asia and North America, having blue, purple, or white flowers in large drooping clusters

---

wisteria

woody vine found in Southern gardens. [Am. Culture: EB, X: 716]

See : Southern States

---

Wisteria

large, woody deciduous vines of the genus Wisteria of the family Leguminosae. The name “wisteria” is most often applied to W. sinensis (Glycine sinensis). The plant is 15-18 m long, with drooping branches and oddly pinnate leaves up to 30 cm long, with seven to 13 leaflets; the blue fragrant blossoms are gathered into pendulous clusters. It is found in forests in the provinces of Hupeh and Szechwan in China and has long been used in ornamental horticulture. W. floribunda (from Japan) and several other species are also called wisteria. Under cultivation forms of wisteria have been produced with white, light-purple, and dark-purple blossoms. In the USSR wisteria is cultivated on the Black Sea coasts of the Crimea and the Caucasus.