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Glite Dictionary
Helianthus laetiflorus

Helianthus laetiflorus

9.9
A tall sunflower plant with rough leaves and large yellow flower heads that grows in the central United States
  • proper noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Helianthus laetiflorus
  • The Helianthus laetiflorus can grow over six feet tall and attracts butterflies.

Examples

  • Many prairies in Kansas feature the vibrant Helianthus laetiflorus in late summer.

  • Botanists studied the distribution of Helianthus laetiflorus across the Midwest.

  • The Helianthus laetiflorus blooms beautifully in the summer.

  • Have you seen a Helianthus laetiflorus growing in the wild?

  • Many prairies in Kansas feature the vibrant Helianthus laetiflorus in late summer.

  • The Helianthus laetiflorus can grow over six feet tall and attracts butterflies.

  • Botanists studied the distribution of Helianthus laetiflorus across the Midwest.

Synonyms

showy sunflower
vsHelianthus laetiflorus
  • US
3.9

A tall plant with large yellow flower heads often grown in gardens

has identical meaning but is the scientific formal name

Surface Forms

Helianthus laetiflorus main

Morphology

helianthus + laetiflorus

This is a Latin binomial: 'Helianthus' clearly identifies the sunflower genus so a learner who knows the constituents can infer it denotes a species of sunflower. However, the specific epithet 'laetiflorus' has no dictionary gloss here and does not transparently yield the detailed traits in the full definition, so the meaning is only partially predictable.

Etymology

Helianthus laetiflorus comes from old Greek and Latin words: Helianthus means 'sun-flower' because these plants turn toward the sun, and laetiflorus means 'bright-flowered' for its cheerful yellow heads. So the name gives a clear image of a tall, sunny sunflower with large, bright blooms.