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Chinese pea tree

Chinese pea tree

9.9
A shrub from northern China with dark green shiny leaves and pale yellow flowers grown in gardens
  • noun
translation icon : árbol de guisante chino
  • The glossy foliage of the Chinese pea tree adds beauty to ornamental landscapes.

Examples

  • The Chinese pea tree blooms beautifully in the spring.

  • We planted a Chinese pea tree in the botanical garden last spring.

  • The Chinese pea tree thrives in well-drained soil and sunny locations.

  • I saw a Chinese pea tree in the botanical garden.

  • The Chinese pea tree thrives in well-drained soil and sunny locations.

  • The glossy foliage of the Chinese pea tree adds beauty to ornamental landscapes.

  • We planted a Chinese pea tree in the botanical garden last spring.

Synonyms

Caragana sinica
vsChinese pea tree
  • Specialized
9.9

A shrub from northern China with dark green shiny leaves and single pale yellow flowers

has the same meaning but is the common everyday name

Surface Forms

Morphology

Chinese + pea + tree

This is a literal, descriptive compound: 'Chinese' marks origin, 'pea' signals a relation to or resemblance to peas, and 'tree' denotes a plant. A B1 learner who knows the constituent words would reasonably infer it refers to a pea‑related plant/tree from China, so the meaning is compositional and not idiomatic.

Etymology

Chinese pea tree may come from the way the plant looks: Chinese because it comes from China, pea because it has small yellow flowers and 'pea-like' seed pods, and tree because it grows as a woody shrub or small tree. So, the name helps you remember that it is a small tree-like plant from China with pea-like flowers and pods.