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Cornus amomum

Cornus amomum

9.9
A shrub with purplish stems and blue berries from eastern North America
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Cornus amomum
  • Gardeners value Cornus amomum for its striking purplish stems and hardiness.

Examples

  • Birds are attracted to the blue berries of Cornus amomum in late summer.

  • The wetland restoration project included planting Cornus amomum for erosion control.

  • The Cornus amomum is often found in wetland areas.

  • Many gardeners appreciate Cornus amomum for its unique appearance.

  • Birds are attracted to the blue fruit of Cornus amomum during the summer months.

  • Gardeners often choose Cornus amomum for its striking purplish stems and resilience.

  • In wetland environments, Cornus amomum plays a vital role in preventing soil erosion.

Synonyms

silky cornel
vsCornus amomum
  • US
9.7

A bush with purple stems and blue fruit that grows in eastern North America

is the same plant but named in an alternate written form
silky dogwood
vsCornus amomum
  • US
8.5

A bush with purplish stems and blue berries often growing near water

is the same shrub but without the added habitat detail

Surface Forms

Cornus amomum singular

Morphology

Cornus + amomum

This is a Latin binomial (genus + species) rather than a compositional English phrase; the species epithet 'amomum' is not an English word and gives no transparent clue to the common name or shrub features. Even if a learner knows 'Cornus' as a taxonomic label, the overall meaning ('silky dogwood' / a particular shrub) cannot be derived from the parts without botanical background, so it is not predictable to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Cornus amomum is a scientific name: Cornus places it in the dogwood group and amomum is the species label that early plant experts used for this silky-stemmed dogwood. So the name points to the shrub called 'silky dogwood' with purplish stems and blue berries.