twinleaf
|twin-leaf|
🇺🇸
/ˈtwɪnˌliːf/
🇬🇧
/ˈtwɪnliːf/
plant with paired leaf blades
Etymology
'twinleaf' originates from English, formed from 'twin' meaning 'two alike' and 'leaf' meaning 'foliage or leaf blade'.
'twinleaf' was coined in modern English as a descriptive compound for the plant whose single leaf is divided into two matching blades; the genus 'Jeffersonia' was named after Thomas Jefferson in the 18th century.
Initially, it directly described a leaf appearing as a pair; in usage it became the established common name for Jeffersonia species, especially J. diphylla.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a North American spring-blooming perennial herb in the barberry family (Jeffersonia diphylla) with a basal leaf that splits into two matching blades and white flowers.
Twinleaf blooms along the forest floor in early spring.
Synonyms
Noun 2
any plant of the genus Jeffersonia, noted for having a paired leaf blade.
Twinleaf is rare in cultivation outside specialty woodland gardens.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/11 22:46