asphodel

name

1. A former township in Peterborough County, Ontario, Canada, merged into Asphodel-Norwood township in 1998.

noun

Etymology: Learned borrowing from Latin asphodelus, from Ancient Greek ἀσφόδελος (asphódelos). Doublet of daffodil.

1. Any of the flowering plants of the family Asphodelaceae, especially Asphodelus ramosus and Asphodelus albus; the flower of these plants.

   “Sometimes I lost track of them and had to hunt round in a circle, thrusting through sharp-scented bushes, scratching myself on various plants which were still new to me: resinaceous rock-roses, juniper, ilex, yellow and white asphodel [translating asphodèles].”

2. The flower said to carpet Hades, and a favorite food of the dead.

   “Her hand he seis'd, and to a shadie bank, Thick overhead with verdant roof imbowr'd He led her nothing loath; Flours were the Couch, Pansies, and Violets, and Asphodel, And Hyacinth, Earths freshest softest lap.”