bleeding heart

bleeding heart
1. any of various plants belonging to the genus Dicentra, of the fumitory family, esp. D. spectabilis, a common garden plant having long, one-sided clusters of rose or red heart-shaped flowers.
2. a person who makes an ostentatious or excessive display of pity or concern for others.
[1685-95]

* * *

Any of several species of Dicentra, a genus of herbaceous flowering plants of the fumitory family (Fumariaceae).

The old garden favourite is the Japanese D. spectabilis, which has small rosy-red and white, heart-shaped flowers dangling from arching stems. The eastern, or wild, bleeding heart (D. eximia) produces sprays of small pink flowers from April to September in the Allegheny Mountains region of the U.S. The Pacific, or western, bleeding heart (D. formosa), ranging from California to British Columbia, has several varieties of garden interest.

Bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis)

Grant Heilman

* * *

plant
 any of several species of Dicentra, a genus of herbaceous flowering plants of the poppy family (Papaveraceae). The old garden favourite is the Japanese D. spectabilis, widespread for its small rosy-red and white, heart-shaped flowers dangling from arching stems about 60 centimetres (2 feet) tall. There is also a white form, D. spectabilis alba. The deeply cut leaf segments are larger than those of other cultivated species of Dicentra, such as the shorter eastern, or wild, bleeding heart (D. eximia), which produces sprays of small pink flowers from April to September in the Allegheny mountain region of eastern North America. The Pacific, or western, bleeding heart (D. formosa) of mountain woods, which ranges from California to British Columbia, has several varieties of garden interest.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Bleeding heart — Bleeding heart, bleeding heart or Bleeding Heart may refer to:Organisms: * Doves in the genus Gallicolumba * Flowering plants in the genus Dicentra of the fumitory family * Flowering plants in the genus Clerodendrum (glorybowers or bagflowers) of …   Wikipedia

  • bleeding heart — type of flowering plant, so called from 1690s. In the sense of person excessively sympathetic (especially toward those the speaker deems not to deserve it) is attested by 1951, but said by many to have been popularized with reference to liberals… …   Etymology dictionary

  • bleeding heart — bleeding hearts also bleeding heart N COUNT: oft N n (disapproval) If you describe someone as a bleeding heart, you are criticizing them for being sympathetic towards people who are poor and suffering, without doing anything practical to help …   English dictionary

  • bleeding heart — also .bleeding heart liberal n informal someone who feels sympathy for poor people or criminals, in a way that you think is not practical or helpful …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • bleeding heart — A bleeding heart is a person who is excessively sympathetic towards other people …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • bleeding heart — ► NOUN 1) informal, derogatory a person considered to be excessively soft hearted or liberal. 2) a plant with red heart shaped flowers …   English terms dictionary

  • bleeding heart — n. 1. any of several dicentras, esp. a common garden perennial (Dicentra spectabilis) with racemes of drooping, deep pink, heart shaped flowers 2. a person regarded as too sentimental or too liberal in dealing with social problems …   English World dictionary

  • bleeding heart — noun count someone who shows too much sympathy for people with social or financial problems, in a way that you think is annoying and not practical …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • bleeding heart — noun 1. garden plant having deep pink drooping heart shaped flowers • Syn: ↑lyreflower, ↑lyre flower, ↑Dicentra spectabilis • Hypernyms: ↑herb, ↑herbaceous plant • Member Holonyms: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • bleeding heart — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms bleeding heart : singular bleeding heart plural bleeding hearts someone who shows too much sympathy for people with social or financial problems, in a way that you think is annoying and not practical …   English dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”