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Glite Dictionary
Gleditsia aquatica

Gleditsia aquatica

9.9
A swamp tree of the southern United States with short oval seed pods and dark heavy wood called water locust
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Gleditsia aquatica
  • I learned to identify Gleditsia aquatica by its short, oval seed pods near the bayou.

Examples

  • The dense stands of Gleditsia aquatica provide habitat for wildlife in southern swamps.

  • Carpenters value the dark, heavy wood of Gleditsia aquatica for its durability.

  • The Gleditsia aquatica thrives in wet, swampy areas.

  • Have you seen a Gleditsia aquatica tree before?

  • Carpenters value the dark, heavy wood of Gleditsia aquatica for its durability.

  • I learned to identify Gleditsia aquatica by its short, oval seed pods near the bayou.

  • The dense stands of Gleditsia aquatica provide habitat for wildlife in southern swamps.

Synonyms

water locust
vsGleditsia aquatica
  • US
9.9

A tree that grows in the swamps of the southern United States with short oval pods and dark heavy wood

is the scientific name while the other is the common name
swamp locust
vsGleditsia aquatica
  • US
9.9

A tree that grows in southern swamps with short oval pods and strong dark wood

is the specific species native to those swamps rather than a related type

Surface Forms

Gleditsia aquatica singular
Gleditsia aquatica plural

Morphology

Gleditsia + aquatica

The binomial combines a known genus name 'Gleditsia' (a type of locust/honey locust tree) with the epithet 'aquatica', which is clearly cognate with English 'aquatic' meaning 'of water'. A B1 learner who knows these constituents can transparently infer 'Gleditsia aquatica' as the water-associated or 'water locust' species that grows in swamps.

Etymology

Gleditsia aquatica combines the tree-group name Gleditsia with the Latin word aquatica, which means 'living in water'. So the name paints an easy picture: a locust tree that lives in swamps, which is why people also call it the 'water locust'.