Flower-de-luce \Flow"er-de-luce"\, n. [Corrupted fr.
fleur-de-lis.] (Bot.)
A genus of perennial herbs ({Iris}) with swordlike leaves and
large three-petaled flowers often of very gay colors, but
probably white in the plant first chosen for the royal French
emblem.
[1913 Webster]
Note: There are nearly one hundred species, natives of the
north temperate zone. Some of the best known are {Iris
Germanica}, {I. Florentina}, {I. Persica}, {I.
sambucina}, and the American {I. versicolor}, {I.
prismatica}, etc.
[1913 Webster]