Etymology
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hydrangea (n.)

1753, coined in Modern Latin by Linnaeus as a compound of Greek hydr-, stem of hydor "water" (from suffixed form of PIE root *wed- (1) "water; wet") + angeion "vessel, capsule" (see angio-); so called from the shrub's cup-shaped seed pods. Native to China, introduced in England 1790.

updated on April 23, 2017

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