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Glite Dictionary
Iris cristata

Iris cristata

9.1
A low-growing iris with crested petals
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Iris cristata
  • Gardeners admire the delicate, crested blooms of Iris cristata for ground cover.

Examples

  • The Iris cristata blooms beautifully in the summer.

  • We planted several Iris cristata along the path to enjoy their unique flowers each year.

  • The Iris cristata adds a splash of purple to shaded woodland gardens in spring.

  • I saw an Iris cristata in my neighbor's garden.

  • Gardeners admire the delicate, crested blooms of Iris cristata for ground cover.

  • The Iris cristata adds a splash of purple to shaded woodland gardens in spring.

  • We planted several Iris cristata along the path to enjoy their unique flowers each year.

Surface Forms

Iris cristata singular
Iris cristatas plural

Morphology

iris + cristata

This is a Latin binomial: 'iris' (a flower) plus 'cristata' (Latin-derived 'crested'), so a learner who knows both constituents could infer it names a kind of iris with crested petals. However, 'cristata' is not a common English word and the specific botanical details (low-growing habit, native range, flowering season) are not derivable from the parts, so the meaning is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Iris cristata comes from two Latin words: Iris, meaning 'rainbow', because irises are colorful, and cristata, meaning 'crested', which describes the small raised part on the flower petals. So the name fits this low-growing iris with crested petals.