Ostentatious Roman Goldenrod

Latin ostentātiōnis, display — adjectival suffix -ous, derived from ostendere (to show). As a color modifier, ostentatious implies a saturated-and-attention-demanding-and-elaborate quality, the bright color of Belle-Époque-and-Gilded-Age showy-luxury-display interior-decoration. Sits at the bright-and-flamboyant end of the grid, parallel to flamboyant and showy in usage.

Latin Romanus, of-Rome. As a color modifier, roman implies an empire-built-and-classical quality, the visual register of Roman-Imperial hand-laid pavement-and-fresco-and-bronze-and-marble Republican-Imperial classical surfaces under Mediterranean-Roman-Imperial classical-architecture afternoon light. Sits at the modifier-and-cultural end of the grid, parallel to etruscan and hellenic in usage.

Solidago, the late-summer wildflower of North American meadows whose tall sprays of small yellow flowers signal the end of the growing season. The color refers to the flower head at full bloom: a warm, slightly muted yellow-orange with the matte finish of small clustered florets. Cooler than mustard, deeper than dandelion. The state flower of Kentucky and Nebraska, a pollinator magnet, and the original native dye for early American homespun.