carrion flower

noun

any of several North American climbing plants of the genus Smilax, especially S. herbacea, having small white flowers with an odor of carrion.
Also called starfish flower.��any of various succulent plants of the genus Stapelia, of southern Africa, having spotted or variegated flowers often with a fetid odor.

carrion flower

noun

a liliaceous climbing plant, Smilax herbacea of E North America, whose small green flowers smell like decaying flesh
any of several other plants, esp any of the genus Stapelia, whose flowers have an unpleasant odour

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Word History and Origins

Origin of carrion flower¹

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Among plants remarkable in their appearance and structure may be noted the cactus-like Euphorbiae or spurge plants, the Stapelia or carrion flower, and the elephant’s foot or Hottentots’ bread, a plant of the same order as the yam.

From

carrion crow carritch

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