'star-flowered' originates from Modern English, specifically a compound of 'star' + 'flower' + the suffix '-ed', where 'star' meant a celestial 'star' and 'flower' meant 'bloom' or 'blossom' and '-ed' denotes 'having' or 'bearing'.

'star' comes from Old English 'steorra' (via Proto-Germanic *sternō), and 'flower' comes from Old English 'flōwer' (via Old French 'flor' and Latin 'flōs'). The compound 'star-flowered' is a later Modern English formation combining these elements to describe flower shape.

Initially a literal compound meaning 'having star-like flowers', this literal sense has remained the primary meaning in botanical and descriptive usage.