Crape myrtle

crape myrtle
    n 1: ornamental shrub from eastern India commonly planted in the
         southern United States [syn: {crape myrtle}, {crepe
         myrtle}, {crepe flower}, {Lagerstroemia indica}]
    

Myrtle \Myr"tle\ (m[~e]r"t'l), n. [F. myrtil bilberry, prop., a
   little myrtle, from myrte myrtle, L. myrtus, murtus, Gr.
   my`rtos; cf. Per. m[=u]rd.] (Bot.)
   A species of the genus {Myrtus}, especially {Myrtus
   communis}. The common myrtle has a shrubby, upright stem,
   eight or ten feet high. Its branches form a close, full head,
   thickly covered with ovate or lanceolate evergreen leaves. It
   has solitary axillary white or rosy flowers, followed by
   black several-seeded berries. The ancients considered it
   sacred to Venus. The flowers, leaves, and berries are used
   variously in perfumery and as a condiment, and the
   beautifully mottled wood is used in turning.
   [1913 Webster]

   Note: The name is also popularly but wrongly applied in
         America to two creeping plants, the blue-flowered
         periwinkle and the yellow-flowered moneywort. In the
         West Indies several myrtaceous shrubs are called
         myrtle.
         [1913 Webster]

   {Bog myrtle}, the sweet gale.

   {Crape myrtle}. See under {Crape}.

   {Myrtle warbler} (Zool.), a North American wood warbler
      ({Dendroica coronata}); -- called also {myrtle bird},
      {yellow-rumped warbler}, and {yellow-crowned warbler}.

   {Myrtle wax}. (Bot.) See {Bayberry tallow}, under {Bayberry}.
      

   {Sand myrtle}, a low, branching evergreen shrub ({Leiophyllum
      buxifolium}), growing in New Jersey and southward.

   {Wax myrtle} ({Myrica cerifera}). See {Bayberry}.
      [1913 Webster]
    

Crape \Crape\ (kr[=a]p), n. [F. cr[^e]pe, fr. L. crispus curled,
   crisped. See {Crisp}.]
   A thin, crimped stuff, made of raw silk gummed and twisted on
   the mill. Black crape is much used for mourning garments,
   also for the dress of some clergymen.
   [1913 Webster]

         A saint in crape is twice a saint in lawn. --Pope.
   [1913 Webster]

   {Crape myrtle} (Bot.), a very ornamental shrub
      ({Lagerstroemia Indica}) from the East Indies, often
      planted in the Southern United States. Its foliage is like
      that of the myrtle, and the flower has wavy crisped
      petals.

   {Oriental crape}. See {Canton crape}.
      [1913 Webster]
    

crape myrtle \crape myrtle\ n.
   an tall East Indian and Chinese shrub ({Lagerstroemia indica}
   of the loosestrife family, commonly planted in Southern and
   Western U. S. as an ornamental shrub. It has clusters of red,
   white, purple, or pink flowers.

   Syn: crepe myrtle, crepe flower, Lagerstroemia indica.
        [WordNet 1.5]