Gentiana clausa

9.9

A North American wildflower with blue or purple tightly closed bottle-shaped flowers

noun

Specialized

: gentiana clausa

The flowers of Gentiana clausa remain closed even when fully mature, distinguishing it from other gentians.

Examples

Gentiana clausa is commonly known as the bottle gentian due to its tightly closed blooms.
The Gentiana clausa is often found in moist, wooded areas.
In late summer, the Gentiana clausa adds vibrant blue color to the woodland edge.
Look at the Gentiana clausa!
Gentiana clausa is commonly known as the bottle gentian due to its tightly closed blooms.
In late summer, the Gentiana clausa adds vibrant blue color to the woodland edge.
The flowers of Gentiana clausa remain closed even when fully mature, distinguishing it from other gentians.

Surface Forms

Gentiana clausa singular

Gentiana clausae plural

Morphology

Gentiana + clausa

This is a Latin binomial combining the genus name Gentiana (a gentian) with clausa (Latin for 'closed'), so the meaning 'a gentian with closed flowers' is directly derivable from the constituents. Although 'clausa' is not an English lexical item, if a learner knows the constituent meanings the compound is compositional and therefore transparent.

Etymology

Gentiana clausa gets its name from the way the flowers stay tightly closed, like a little bottle. The second word clausa comes from a Latin word meaning 'closed', so the name points to the plant's shut flowers.