1. The time and process of budding and unfolding of blossoms: "This florescence should not be confused with another fluorescence which is descriptive of the emission of electromagnetic radiation; especially, of visible light, stimulated in a substance by the absorption of incident radiation and persisting only as long as the stimulating radiation is continued."
2. Etymology: from Modern Latin florescentia, from Latin florescentem, florescens, "blooming"; and from florescere, "to begin to bloom".