[UNDER-1 5 d.] A small or low-growing shrub; spec. in Bot., a plant having a shrubby base. (Cf. SUBSHRUB.)
1598. Florio, Soffrutice, any maner of vndershrub.
1633. Ford, ’Tis Pity, V. iii. I must totter like a well-growne Oake, Some vnder shrubs shall in my weighty fall Be crusht to splitts.
1658. Rowland, trans. Moufet’s Theat. Ins., 1086. Indeed every shrub and under-shrub is eaten by Worms.
1718. Ozell, trans. Tournefort’s Voy., I. 173. The Stalk … is full of Branches from the very bottom, ligneous, and comes to be an Under-Shrub.
1731. Miller, Gard. Dict., s.v. Abrotanum, It is used in Gardens as an Under-shrub.
1794. G. Adams, Nat. & Exp. Philos., I. x. 429. At last the under-shrubs and trees put forth in their order.
1830. Lindley, Nat. Syst. Bot., 57. Halorageæ.… Herbaceous plants or under-shrubs, often growing in wet places.
1897. J. E. Willis, Flower. Pl. & F., I. 165. Such low-growing shrubby plants as heather … are termed undershrubs.
Hence Undershrubby a. (Cf. SUBSHRUBBY.)
1777. S. Robson, Brit. Flora, 117. Wild-thyme Cistus. Stem undershrubby, leaves oblong.
1786. Abercrombie, Gard. Assist., 189. The young side shoots of under-shrubby evergreens.
