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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Eastern camass

Hyacinth \Hy"a*cinth\, n. [L. hyacinthus a kind of flower, prob. the iris, gladiolus, or larkspur, also a kind of gem, perh. the sapphire; as, a proper name, Hyacinthus, a beautiful Laconian youth, beloved by Apollo, fr. Gr. ?, ?: cf. F. hyacinthe. Cf. Jacinth. The hyacinth was fabled to have sprung from the blood of Hyacinthus, who was accidentally slain by Apollo.]

  1. (Bot.)

    1. A bulbous plant of the genus Hyacinthus, bearing beautiful spikes of fragrant flowers. Hyacinthus orientalis is a common variety.

    2. A plant of the genus Camassia ( Camassia Farseri), called also Eastern camass; wild hyacinth.

    3. The name also given to Scilla Peruviana, a Mediterranean plant, one variety of which produces white, and another blue, flowers; -- called also, from a mistake as to its origin, Hyacinth of Peru.

  2. (Min.) A red variety of zircon, sometimes used as a gem. See Zircon.

    Hyacinth bean (Bot.), a climbing leguminous plant ( Dolichos Lablab), related to the true bean. It has dark purple flowers and fruit.