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Glite Dictionary
Dahlia pinnata

Dahlia pinnata

7.3
A garden plant with large bright flowers grown for decoration
  • noun
  • /ˈdɑːliə pɪˈnɑːtə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : dalia pinnata
  • The Dahlia pinnata is prized in gardens for its spectacular, multi-colored blooms.

Examples

  • She entered her best Dahlia pinnata blossom in the annual flower show.

  • The Dahlia pinnata blooms beautifully in the summer.

  • Many horticulturists have cultivated new varieties from the original Dahlia pinnata.

  • Have you seen the new Dahlia pinnatas at the garden center?

  • The Dahlia pinnata is known for its vibrant and large flowers, making it a favorite among gardeners.

  • Every year, many people showcase their stunning Dahlia pinnata flowers in local gardening competitions.

  • In her backyard, she grows several Dahlia pinnata plants that attract butterflies and bees.

Surface Forms

Dahlia pinnata singular
Dahlia pinnatas plural

Morphology

Dahlia + pinnata

This is a Latin binomial: the first element 'Dahlia' clearly signals the genus so a learner can infer it refers to a kind of dahlia, but the second element 'pinnata' is a Latin species epithet (not a common English word and listed here as not found in the dictionary), so its specific descriptive meaning is not recoverable to a B1 learner. Because the genus part is transparent but the species epithet is opaque without botanical/Latin knowledge, the overall expression is only partly predictable.

Etymology

The plant name Dahlia pinnata was given in honor of the Swedish plant scientist Anders Dahl. The second word, pinnata, means 'feathered' and refers to the leaves that look like small feathers, so the name helps you remember a showy dahlia with feather-like leaves.