Cycas circinalis
- noun
- Specialized
:
Cycas circinalis
- The leaves of Cycas circinalis resemble those of a palm tree but are more rigid.
Examples
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Cycas circinalis is native to southeastern India and is often found in tropical gardens.
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Cycas circinalis is commonly known as the queen sago in parts of India.
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Botanists are studying Cycas circinalis for its resilience in dry climates.
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The Cycas circinalis is often referred to as the king sago palm.
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Many gardeners love the Cycas circinalis for its unique appearance.
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The large, palmlike leaves of Cycas circinalis add a striking feature to any landscape.
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Many people admire Cycas circinalis for its stout trunk and attractive foliage.
Synonyms
1
9.9
A tropical plant with a single trunk topped by a crown of large fernlike leaves
A cycad plant from southeast India that looks like a palm but is not a true sago
A tropical plant with palmlike leaves that look like a fern
Surface Forms
Morphology
Cycas + circinalis
This is a taxonomic binomial (genus + specific epithet), so a learner who knows 'Cycas' can transparently infer that the phrase names a particular species of Cycas. However, the epithet 'circinalis' is a Latin species name (not a regular English word) and does not convey the descriptive details (native range, palmlike leaves, stout trunk) to a B1 learner, so the full dictionary definition is not predictable from the parts.
Etymology
Cycas circinalis may come from old Greek and Latin words: Cycas meaning 'palm-like' and circinalis meaning 'curled into a circle'. So the name paints a picture of a palm-like plant whose new leaves unroll in a curl, which helps you remember this species.