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Glite Dictionary
Listera convallarioides

Listera convallarioides

9.9
A small North American orchid with two oval leaves and a thin stem of small green flowers
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Listera convallarioides
  • You can identify the Listera convallarioides by its two elliptic leaves and delicate green flowers resting close to the ground.

Examples

  • The tiny green flowers of Listera convallarioides are easy to overlook on the forest floor.

  • The Listera convallarioides can often be found in moist wooded areas in western North America.

  • Botanists were excited to discover a colony of Listera convallarioides during their field study.

  • Look at that beautiful Listera convallarioides!

  • Wow, a Listera convallarioides!

  • The Listera convallarioides is known for its unique small green flowers that grow on a slender raceme.

  • In the spring, the Listera convallarioides blooms in shaded, damp areas, attracting the attention of nature enthusiasts.

Surface Forms

Listera convallarioides singular
Listera convallarioides plural

Morphology

Listera + convallarioides

This is a scientific Latin binomial (a taxonomic name) rather than a compositional English phrase; the label denotes a specific species and is not built from ordinary English morphemes. Even if a learner knew 'Listera' as a genus, the epithet 'convallarioides' is specialized/Latinate and not transparently interpretable by a B1 learner, so the species meaning cannot be derived from the parts.

Etymology

Listera convallarioides comes from two parts: Listera, named for a botanist called Lister, and convallarioides, which means 'like Convallaria', the lily-of-the-valley. Early botanists gave this name because the small orchid's two broad leaves and tiny flowers reminded them of that plant, so the name helps you remember what the species looks like.