syringa

[prettygoodword]

syringa (suh-RING-guh) - n., any ornamental shrub of genus Philadelphus of the hydrangea family, esp. P. coronarius, several of which are widely grown for their showy and fragrant white flowers, also called mock orange and sweet mock orange; any shrub or tree of the genus Syringa, the lilacs.


The mock orange syringa:


Thanks, WikiMedia!

The lilac syringa:


Thanks, WikiMedia!

Vai Dutch from New Latin, from Ancient Greek sûrinx, pan pipes, which for the lilac variety refers to the hollow branches of S. vulgaris -- I haven't found why the mock oranges are called this.

---L.