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Glite Dictionary
Ambrosia psilostachya

Ambrosia psilostachya

9.9
A rough plant that lives for many years and spreads with deep roots in dry places
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : ambrosía psilostachya
  • The deep roots of Ambrosia psilostachya help it survive in dry, nutrient-poor soils.

Examples

  • Gardeners may try to remove Ambrosia psilostachya because of its aggressive spreading habit.

  • Ambrosia psilostachya is commonly found along roadsides in arid regions of the southwest.

  • The Ambrosia psilostachya thrives in arid environments.

  • Many gardeners avoid Ambrosia psilostachya due to its invasive nature.

  • Ambrosia psilostachya is commonly found along roadsides in arid regions of the southwest.

  • The deep roots of Ambrosia psilostachya help it survive in dry, nutrient-poor soils.

  • Gardeners may try to remove Ambrosia psilostachya because of its aggressive spreading habit.

Synonyms

western ragweed
vsAmbrosia psilostachya
  • Specialized
9.9

A tough wild plant with creeping roots that grows in dry, rocky places in the US southwest and Mexico

is the scientific botanical name rather than the common regional name
perennial ragweed
vsAmbrosia psilostachya
  • Specialized
8.8

A rough plant with spreading roots that lives year after year in dry open land

refers to that species specifically rather than the broad common label

Surface Forms

Ambrosia psilostachya singular
Ambrosia psilostachyas plural

Morphology

ambrosia + psilostachya

This is a scientific Latin binomial (genus + species). Even if a learner knows 'Ambrosia' as a ragweed genus, the species epithet 'psilostachya' is technical/opaque for a B1 learner and does not yield the specific meaning, so the overall phrase functions as a proper name rather than a compositional phrase.

Etymology

Ambrosia psilostachya may come from two old words: Ambrosia was 'food of the gods', a name for something that lasts, and psilostachya means 'smooth spike', a picture of its straight flower spikes. That's why the name fits this tough ragweed that lives a long time and spreads with creeping roots in dry places.