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Cryptogramma acrostichoides

Cryptogramma acrostichoides

9.9
A small fern that grows in clumps on rocks with leaves like parsley
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Cryptogramma acrostichoides
  • On our hike, we spotted several clumps of Cryptogramma acrostichoides growing between boulders.

Examples

  • The Cryptogramma acrostichoides thrives on rocky outcrops in alpine regions.

  • Gardeners appreciate Cryptogramma acrostichoides for its delicate, parsley-like foliage.

  • The Cryptogramma acrostichoides thrives in rocky environments.

  • Have you seen a Cryptogramma acrostichoides in the wild?

  • Gardeners appreciate Cryptogramma acrostichoides for its delicate, parsley-like foliage.

  • On our hike, we spotted several clumps of Cryptogramma acrostichoides growing between boulders.

  • The Cryptogramma acrostichoides thrives on rocky outcrops in alpine regions.

Synonyms

American rock brake
vsCryptogramma acrostichoides
  • Specialized
9.9

A fern that grows on rocks in northern North America with fronds like parsley

means the same species but is a different common name
American parsley fern
vsCryptogramma acrostichoides
  • US
9.2

A fern that grows in rocky places in northern North America with leaves like parsley

is the same species but is used as another common name

Surface Forms

Morphology

Cryptogramma + acrostichoides

This is a Latin binomial (genus + species) where the second element 'acrostichoides' is not a known English word and provides no transparent, learner-friendly clue; even if a learner recognises 'Cryptogramma' as a fern genus, they cannot derive the specific sense (rock-inhabiting, tufted fronds resembling parsley) from the parts. Scientific names function as proper nouns and are not compositionally interpretable by a B1 learner, so the meaning is not predictable from the constituents.

Etymology

Cryptogramma acrostichoides may come from Greek roots: crypto meaning 'hidden' and gramma meaning 'writing', because the fern hides tiny dots of spores under its fronds. The ending acrostichoides refers to its leaf shape, so the full name gives a picture of a rock fern with hidden spore dots and parsley-like leaves.