California yellow bells
- noun
- Specialized
- We spotted several California yellow bells growing along the edge of the desert trail.
Examples
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The pendulous yellow flowers of California yellow bells make them stand out in arid landscapes.
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The California yellow bells bloom beautifully in the desert.
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Botanists study how California yellow bells adapt to the dry climate of the American Southwest.
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Have you ever seen California yellow bells in bloom?
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The bright yellow flowers of the California yellow bells attract many pollinators in their native habitat.
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In the spring, the California yellow bells bloom, providing a splash of color against the desert backdrop.
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Many hikers enjoy admiring the clusters of California yellow bells they find along the arid paths.
Synonyms
A sticky plant with hanging yellow flowers that grows in desert areas
A sticky plant that grows in dry southwestern United States deserts with drooping yellow flowers
A sticky desert plant with hanging yellow flowers
Surface Forms
Morphology
California + yellow + bell
The phrase is fully compositional: 'California' specifies origin/place, 'yellow' describes color, and 'bells' evokes bell‑shaped flowers. A B1 learner who knows these constituent words can infer this refers to a plant with hanging yellow, bell‑shaped flowers from California, so the meaning is transparent.
Etymology
California yellow bells gets its name from a simple picture: the plant often grows in California and has bright yellow flowers that hang like small bells. So the name helps you imagine this 'sticky herb' in dry places of the southwest United States and makes the plant easy to remember.