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Grevillea robusta

Grevillea robusta

9.9
A tall fast-growing tree with bright orange flowers and feathery leaves
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Grevillea robusta
  • The Grevillea robusta is a popular ornamental tree in parks and gardens around the world.

Examples

  • Birds are attracted to the bright orange flowers of the Grevillea robusta during spring.

  • The timber from Grevillea robusta is valued for its attractive grain and workability.

  • Look at that beautiful Grevillea robusta in the park!

  • The Grevillea robusta is often used in landscaping.

  • Birds are attracted to the bright orange flowers of the Grevillea robusta during spring.

  • The Grevillea robusta is a popular ornamental tree in parks and gardens around the world.

  • The Grevillea robusta is often used in landscaping for its attractive foliage and flowers.

Synonyms

silky oak
vsGrevillea robusta
  • Australian
8.1

A tall Australian tree with feathery leaves and bright orange flowers

is the formal botanical name for that exact species
silk oak
vsGrevillea robusta
  • Australian
8.9

A tall Australian tree with leaves like a fern and wood used for furniture

is one specific species rather than a general group of timber trees

Surface Forms

Morphology

grevillea + robusta

This is a binomial botanical name made of the genus Grevillea and the specific epithet robusta; if a learner knows 'Grevillea' as a flowering-plant genus and recognises 'robusta' as meaning 'robust/strong' (Latin-derived), they can compositionally infer it denotes a robust species of Grevillea (i.e., a type of tree). The meaning is therefore predictable from the parts rather than idiomatic or metaphorical.

Etymology

Grevillea robusta is named after Mr Greville, a plant lover, and the second word robusta means 'strong' in Latin. So imagine a strong, fast-growing 'silk oak' with silky leaves and bright orange flowers—this image helps you remember the tall ornamental tree the name refers to.