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Glite Dictionary
Hypoxis hirsuta

Hypoxis hirsuta

9.9
A North American plant that lives many years with yellow star-shaped flowers and hairy leaves and stems
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Hipoxis hirsuta
  • Hypoxis hirsuta is a perennial plant native to North America, often found in sunny prairies.

Examples

  • The yellow flowers of Hypoxis hirsuta bloom in early spring.

  • Hypoxis hirsuta is commonly found in prairies and open woodlands across the Midwest.

  • Gardeners value Hypoxis hirsuta for its ability to thrive in poor soils.

  • The Hypoxis hirsuta blooms beautifully in the summer.

  • Many gardeners appreciate Hypoxis hirsuta for its vibrant color.

  • The bright yellow flowers of Hypoxis hirsuta attract various pollinators in the spring.

  • With its hairy leaves, Hypoxis hirsuta is well adapted to survive in rocky, well-drained soils.

Surface Forms

Hypoxis hirsuta singular
Hypoxis hirsutas plural
Hypoxis hirsuta plural

Morphology

Hypoxis + hirsuta

This botanical binomial is compositionally built from a genus name and a descriptive species epithet: if a learner knows 'Hypoxis' (a plant genus) and 'hirsuta' (Latin for 'hairy', cognate with English 'hirsute'), they can infer 'a hairy Hypoxis' or a Hypoxis species with hairy leaves/stems. Scientific names routinely use descriptive epithets, so the meaning is directly derivable from the constituents and is transparent to learners who know both parts.

Etymology

Hypoxis hirsuta may come from old Greek and Latin words. The first part, Hypoxis, may point to a low or pointed part of the plant, and hirsuta means 'hairy' in Latin, which fits its fuzzy leaves and stems, so the name helps you picture a small yellow plant with hairy parts.