What is "tassel flower"

Tassel \Tas"sel\, n. [OE., a fastening of a mantle, OF. tassel a fastening, clasp, F. tasseau a bracket, Fr. L. taxillus a little die, dim. of talus a die of a longish shape, rounded on two sides and marked only on the other four, a knuckle bone.]

1. A pendent ornament, attached to the corners of cushions, to curtains, and the like, ending in a tuft of loose threads or cords.

2. The flower or head of some plants, esp. when pendent.

   And the maize field grew and ripened, Till it stood in all the splendor Of its garments green and yellow, Of its tassels and its plumage.
   --Longfellow.

3. A narrow silk ribbon, or the like, sewed to a book to be put between the leaves.

4. (Arch.) A piece of board that is laid upon a wall as a sort of plate, to give a level surface to the ends of floor timbers; -- rarely used in the United States.

   Tassel flower (Bot.), a name of several composite plants of the genus Cineraria, especially the Cineraria sconchifolia, and of the blossoms which they bear.

1. n. tropical Asiatic annual cultivated for its small tassel-shaped heads of scarlet flowers [syn: Emilia sagitta]

2. tropical African annual having scarlet tassel-shaped flower heads; sometimes placed in genus Cacalia [syn: Emilia coccinea, Emilia javanica, Emilia flammea, Cacalia javanica, Cacalia lutea]

3. young leaves widely used as leaf vegetables; seeds used as cereal [syn: love-lies-bleeding, velvet flower, Amaranthus caudatus]