Emilia coccinea

9.9

A small tropical plant with bright red flowers that look like tassels

noun

Specialized

: Emilia coccinea

Some taxonomists place Emilia coccinea in the genus Cacalia, though it is commonly known as tassel flower.

Examples

The bright red flowers of Emilia coccinea attract butterflies and bees to the garden.
In botanical gardens, Emilia coccinea is often grown for its ornamental value.
The Emilia coccinea is known for its vibrant red flowers.
Have you seen the Emilia coccinea blooming in the garden?
In botanical gardens, Emilia coccinea is often grown for its ornamental value.
The bright red flowers of Emilia coccinea attract butterflies and bees to the garden.
Have you seen the Emilia coccinea blooming in the garden?

Surface Forms

Emilia coccinea singular

Emilia coccineas plural

Morphology

Emilia + coccinea

This is a botanical binomial combining the genus name 'Emilia' with the species epithet 'coccinea' (Latin, meaning 'scarlet' or 'red'), so the phrase literally denotes the Emilia species with scarlet flowers. Because the species name functions as a descriptive adjective, the overall meaning is compositional and directly derivable from the constituents.

Etymology

Emilia coccinea is a scientific name that paints a simple picture of the plant: the first part, Emilia, probably comes from a person's name like 'Emilia' or 'Emil', and the second part, coccinea, is Latin for 'scarlet', so the full name points to a red, tassel-like flower.