【英语时差8,16】四旬期玫瑰

 The genus Helleborus includes plants that are commonly called “Christmas rose” and “Lenten rose”. The species that blooms in lent is “Helleborus Orientalis.” It has unusual colors for a flower, green, plum and greenish or pinkish white with many possible markings and combinations of these shades on the flowers.

    The plant is 12 to 18 inches tall. The leaves are coarse and toothed, divided into 7 to 9 leaflets. It is evergreen¹, but after a harsh winter looks bedraggled because the leaves are winter scorched² and brown. If you cut off the messy looking parts, the plant will look better and show off the flowers when they emerge.

    The Lenten rose is not really a rose at all, but it’s flower shape reminds us of a single petaled rose with a tuft of dense³ short stamens in the center. The flowers change color as they age and last a long time on the plant. The genus name “Helleborus” is from the Greek word “helein” — “to kill”. This is because the roots are poisonous.

    For many centuries the plant was thought to have medicinal uses and was sometimes used to treat those with emotional disorders⁴. John Gerard, writing in 1597 noted⁵ that it was a good treatment for mad and furious men. There are many stories and legends about its magic and purifying power. Because the colors of the blooms are muted, they look wonderful if floated in water in a shallow bowl of any color.

1 evergreen   

n.常青树；adj.四季常青的

参考例句：

• Some trees are evergreen;they are called evergreen.有的树是常青的，被叫做常青树。
• There is a small evergreen shrub on the hillside.山腰上有一小块常绿灌木丛。

2 scorched   

烧焦，烤焦( scorch的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（植物）枯萎，把…晒枯； 高速行驶； 枯焦

参考例句：

• I scorched my dress when I was ironing it. 我把自己的连衣裙熨焦了。
• The hot iron scorched the tablecloth. 热熨斗把桌布烫焦了。

3 dense   

a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的

参考例句：

• The general ambushed his troops in the dense woods. 将军把部队埋伏在浓密的树林里。
• The path was completely covered by the dense foliage. 小路被树叶厚厚地盖了一层。

4 disorders   

n.混乱( disorder的名词复数 )；凌乱；骚乱；（身心、机能）失调

参考例句：

• Reports of anorexia and other eating disorders are on the increase. 据报告，厌食症和其他饮食方面的功能紊乱发生率正在不断增长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The announcement led to violent civil disorders. 这项宣布引起剧烈的骚乱。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。