[as-pi-dis-truh] 
| any of several plants belonging to the genus Aspidistra, of the lily family, native to eastern Asia, esp. A. eliator, having large evergreen leaves often striped with white, and grown as a houseplant. |
| as·pi·dis·tra (ās'pĭ-dĭs'trə) n. Any of several eastern Asian plants of the genus Aspidistra in the lily family, especially A. elatior, which has large evergreen basal leaves and small, brownish bell-shaped flowers and is widely cultivated as a houseplant. Also called cast-iron plant. [New Latin Aspidistra, genus name, from Greek aspis, aspid-, shield.] |