[ noun ] late-spring-blooming rhododendron of eastern North America having rosy to pink-purple flowers <noun.plant>
Rosebay \Rose"bay`\, n. (Bot.) (a) the oleander. [Obs.] (b) Any shrub of the genus {Rhododendron}. [U.S.] (c) An herb ({Epilobium spicatum}) with showy purple flowers, common in Europe and North America; -- called also {great willow herb}.
Oleander \O`le*an"der\, n. [F. ol['e]andre (cf. It. oleandro, LL. lorandrum), prob. corrupted, under the influence of laurus laurel, fr. L. rhododendron, Gr. ?; ? rose + ? tree.] (Bot.) A beautiful evergreen shrub ({Nerium oleander}) of the Dogbane family, having clusters of fragrant red, white, or pink flowers. It is a native of the East Indies, but the red variety has become common in the south of Europe. Called also {rosebay}, {rose laurel}, and {South-sea rose}. [1913 Webster +PJC]
Note: Every part of the plant is dangerously poisonous, and death has occured from using its wood for skewers in cooking meat.