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Glite Dictionary
Dolichos lignosus

Dolichos lignosus

9.9
An evergreen climbing plant from South Africa that gardeners use to enrich soil, with purple flower clusters and edible pods
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Dolichos lignosus
  • Dolichos lignosus is commonly cultivated for its clusters of bright, rosy-purple flowers and edible pods.

Examples

  • Gardeners sometimes plant Dolichos lignosus as green manure to enrich the soil.

  • The glossy purple pods of Dolichos lignosus resemble snap beans when ripe.

  • Dolichos lignosus is grown in many regions for its attractive flowers and edible pods.

  • Dolichos lignosus is often grown in gardens for its beautiful flowers.

  • Many farmers in South Africa plant Dolichos lignosus as a cover crop.

  • Gardeners use Dolichos lignosus as green manure to improve soil fertility and structure.

  • The long, bean-like pods of Dolichos lignosus are not only attractive but also edible.

Synonyms

Dipogon lignosus
vsDolichos lignosus
  • Specialized
9.9

An evergreen climbing plant from South Africa with pink purple flowers and pods you can eat like beans

is the same plant but called with a different scientific name
Australian pea
vsDolichos lignosus
  • South African
9.9

A South African evergreen vine with purple flowers and edible young pods that farmers often grow to improve soil

is the scientific designation used more precisely than the common name

Surface Forms

Dolichos lignosus singular
Dolichos lignosuses plural

Morphology

Dolichos + lignosus

This is a scientific Latin binomial (a genus name plus a Latin adjective) functioning as a taxonomic proper name rather than a compositional English phrase. The second element 'lignosus' is not found in the learner dictionary and any Latin-root link to 'wood' is specialist knowledge, so an average B1 learner knowing English words would not be able to derive the plant meaning from the constituents.

Etymology

Dolichos lignosus comes from two old words: dolichos meaning 'long' and lignosus meaning 'woody'. The name tells you the vine has long, bean-like pods and partly woody stems, which helps you remember this evergreen plant with purple flowers and edible pods.