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Glite Dictionary
Circaea alpina

Circaea alpina

9.9
A small mountain plant with delicate flowers that grows in cool northern areas
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Circaea alpina
  • The delicate flowers of Circaea alpina bloom in shaded, mountainous forests during the summer.

Examples

  • Researchers discovered a population of Circaea alpina in the high-altitude meadows of Japan.

  • I found a beautiful Circaea alpina while hiking in the mountains.

  • Gardeners interested in native alpine species admire the simple beauty of Circaea alpina.

  • The Circaea alpina thrives in cooler climates.

  • Gardeners interested in native alpine species admire the simple beauty of Circaea alpina.

  • Researchers discovered a population of Circaea alpina in the high-altitude meadows of Japan.

  • The delicate flowers of Circaea alpina bloom in shaded, mountainous forests during the summer.

Synonyms

Alpine enchanter's nightshade
vsCircaea alpina
  • UK
9.9

A small plant with white flowers that grows in moist shaded mountain woods

is a specific species of that group found across alpine and subalpine northern regions

Surface Forms

Circaea alpina singular
Circaea alpinæ singular

Morphology

Circaea + alpina

This is a Latin binomial (genus + species) rather than a compositional English phrase: 'Circaea' is a capitalized scientific genus name and 'alpina' is a Latin epithet not listed as an English word. Even if a learner guesses that 'alpina' relates to 'alpine', the overall meaning (a specific taxonomic species) is specialized and not transparently derivable by an average B1 learner from the constituents.

Etymology

Circaea alpina is named from myth and place. The first part, Circaea, comes from Circe, a famous witch in old stories, so people called it an 'enchanter's' nightshade, and the second part, alpina, means 'from the Alps' or mountains, which is why the name fits a plant that lives in high, shaded mountain areas.