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Glite Dictionary
Kalmia latifolia

Kalmia latifolia

9.9
An evergreen shrub with shiny leaves and white or pink flowers
  • noun
  • /ˈkælmɪə lætɪˈfoʊliə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Kalmia latifolia
  • The garden's centerpiece is a beautiful Kalmia latifolia in full bloom.

Examples

  • Our hiking trail was lined with flowering Kalmia latifolia shrubs this spring.

  • Botanists often study the growth patterns of Kalmia latifolia in Appalachian forests.

  • Look at that stunning Kalmia latifolia over there!

  • The Kalmia latifolia blooms beautifully in spring.

  • Our hiking trail was lined with flowering Kalmia latifolia shrubs this spring.

  • The garden's centerpiece is a beautiful Kalmia latifolia in full bloom.

  • The Kalmia latifolia displays stunning clusters of white and pink flowers.

Synonyms

calico bush
vsKalmia latifolia
  • US
9.8

An evergreen shrub also called mountain laurel, with glossy leaves and white or pink flowers that grows in North America

is the formal botanical name used for that shrub
mountain laurel
vsKalmia latifolia
  • US
6.1

An evergreen shrub with shiny leaves and clusters of pink or white flowers

is the scientific label rather than the everyday name
wood laurel
vsKalmia latifolia
  • US
8.9

A bush that keeps green leaves all year with white or pink flowers

identifies the exact botanical species instead of a general term
American laurel
vsKalmia latifolia
  • US
8.2

An evergreen shrub with shiny leaves and white or pink flowers that grows in North American woods

limits meaning to the specific scientific species rather than a regional label

Surface Forms

Kalmia latifolia singular
Kalmia latifolias plural

Morphology

kalmia + latifolia

This is a botanical Latin binomial: 'Kalmia' names the genus (mountain laurel) but 'latifolia' is a Latin species epithet (literally 'broad‑leaved') and is not a standard English word a B1 learner would know. Because the second constituent is not transparent or part of everyday English and understanding the full name requires botanical/Latin knowledge, the expression is not derivable by a typical B1 learner and is therefore opaque.

Etymology

Kalmia latifolia is a plant name made from a person's name and a Latin description: Kalmia honors the Swedish plant collector Pehr Kalm, and latifolia means 'broad leaves'. So the name gives a simple picture — the Kalmia with 'broad leaves', which helps you remember it is the 'mountain laurel' shrub with shiny, wide leaves.