bleeding heart

plural bleeding hearts · alternative bleeding-heart

1. Any of various perennial plants, of the family Papaveraceae, subfamily Fumarioideae, often having pink heart-shaped flowers, including:
   1. An Asian bleeding heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis, syn. Dicentra spectabilis), a popular garden plant with arching sprays of pendent red and white (or pure white) flowers.
   2. Any member of the genus Dicentra (bleedinghearts), native to eastern Asia and North America, some species with colors and shape similar to Lamprocapnos spectabilis.

      Synonyms: eardrop

   3. Dactylicapnos, a genus native to Himalayas and mountainous areas of South China, Burma and Vietnam, usually with yellow flowers of similar shape.
2. Certain species of genus Clerodendrum of flowering shrubs, lianas, or small trees of the mint family Lamiaceae.

   Synonyms: glorybower, bagflower

3. Any member of the species Homalanthus populifolius (bleeding heart tree), an Australian rainforest plant.

   Synonyms: Queensland poplar

4. Any member of the species Homalanthus novoguineensis (bleeding heart tree), a rainforest plant of Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands.
5. Any member of the genus Gallicolumba of ground-dwelling doves of east Asian islands.
6. derogatoryfigurativelyA person who is overly sympathetic to the plight of the underprivileged, exploited or helpless, or to casualties of circumstance.