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Glite Dictionary
Lotus americanus

Lotus americanus

9.9
A North American plant that lives one year with red or pink flowers in the pea family
  • noun
  • /ˈloʊtəs əˈmɛrɪkənəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : loto americano
  • We spotted several Lotus americanus plants blooming by the riverbank in late spring.

Examples

  • The botanical garden recently added Lotus americanus to its wildflower collection.

  • Researchers are studying the ecological role of Lotus americanus in native prairie habitats.

  • The Lotus americanus blooms beautifully in the summer.

  • Have you seen the Lotus americanus at the botanical garden?

  • The botanical garden recently added Lotus americanus to its wildflower collection.

  • We spotted several Lotus americanus plants blooming by the riverbank in late spring.

  • Researchers are studying the ecological role of Lotus americanus in native prairie habitats.

Synonyms

prairie bird's-foot trefoil
vsLotus americanus
  • US
9.9

A North American plant that lives for one year with bright pink or red pea-like flowers

uses the scientific legume term rather than the common family name
prairie trefoil
vsLotus americanus
  • US
9.6

An annual North American plant with red or pink flowers that grows in prairies

focuses on formal botanical classification in the legume family
prairie lotus
vsLotus americanus
  • US
8.2

A North American annual plant with pink flowers that grows on prairies

gives botanical family classification instead of habitat focus

Surface Forms

Lotus americanus singular
Lotus americanuses plural

Morphology

Lotus + americanus

This is a binomial Latin name combining the genus 'Lotus' (a plant) with the species epithet 'americanus' meaning 'of America', so the phrase transparently indicates an American species of Lotus. While detailed botanical traits (e.g. flower colour, annual habit) are not encoded in the wording, a B1 learner who knows the constituents can infer it refers to a type of Lotus from America, a compositional meaning that is cross-linguistically recognizable.

Etymology

Lotus americanus combines Lotus, an old name for plants with pea-like flowers and seed pods, and americanus, a Latin word meaning 'from America'. So the name simply tells us it is a Lotus-type plant that comes from America.