elanor

noun. pimpernel, small golden star-shaped flower, (lit.) sun-star

The name of a flower in Lórien translated “sun-star” also given as the name of the first daughter of Samwise (LotR/1026). It is a combination of el “star” and Anor “sun” (PE17/55). In notes for the tale of Aldarion and Erendis, Tolkien said it also grew in Númenor and “was a small golden star-shaped flower” (UT/216 note #20). In a letter to Amy Ronald from 1969, Tolkien described it as “a pimpernel (perhaps a little enlarged) growing sun-golden flowers and star-silver ones on the same plant, and sometimes the two combined” (Let/402). Thus it was either a golden star-shaped flower or a pimpernel-like plant growing both sun-coloured and star-coloured flowers.

Element in

• S. Elanor

Elements

Word	Gloss
êl	“star”
Anor	“Sun”

Variations

• Elanor ✧ LotRI/Elanor; UT/216