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Macleaya cordata

Macleaya cordata

9.9
A tall plant with large white flower plumes that is often grown in gardens
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Macleaya cordata
  • Macleaya cordata can add a dramatic flair to any garden with its tall white flower plumes.

Examples

  • Macleaya cordata produces beautiful clusters of creamy white flowers that attract many pollinators.

  • Many gardeners appreciate the striking foliage of Macleaya cordata in mixed borders.

  • Macleaya cordata is known for thriving in rich, moist soils and partial sunlight.

  • The Macleaya cordata grows well in sunny gardens.

  • Have you seen the Macleaya cordata in bloom?

  • Macleaya cordata is often used in landscaping for its tall, graceful appearance and showy blooms.

  • Macleaya cordata thrives in well-drained soils, making it an ideal choice for garden enthusiasts.

Synonyms

plume poppy
vsMacleaya cordata
9.9

A tall garden plant with large feathery white flowers

emphasizes a soft-stemmed herb form rather than lifespan

Surface Forms

Morphology

Macleaya + cordata

The phrase is a Linnaean binomial (genus + species) so its overall meaning — a particular kind of Macleaya plant — is compositionally predictable from the constituents. However the specific epithet 'cordata' is a Latin adjectival form (not a common English word) and its descriptive content (e.g. 'heart-shaped') is not accessible to an average B1 learner, so the full sense is only partially recoverable.

Etymology

Macleaya cordata may come from a naturalist named Macleay, and cordata is a Latin word meaning 'heart-shaped', which describes the plant's large, heart-like leaves. So you can remember it as 'Macleay's heart-shaped plant', a tall herb with creamy flower plumes.