japonica n 1: greenhouse shrub with glossy green leaves and showy fragrant rose-like flowers; cultivated in many varieties [syn: {japonica}, {Camellia japonica}] 2: deciduous thorny shrub native to Japan having red blossoms [syn: {japonica}, {maule's quince}, {Chaenomeles japonica}]
Japonica \Ja*pon"i*ca\, n. [NL., Japanese, fr. Japonia Japan.] (Bot.) A species of Camellia ({Camellia Japonica}), a native of Japan, bearing beautiful red or white flowers. Many other genera have species of the same name. [1913 Webster]