Malheur wire lettuce
- noun
- Specialized
:
lechuga de alambre de Malheur
- The Malheur wire lettuce is listed as a threatened species due to habitat loss.
Examples
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Efforts are underway to protect the Malheur wire lettuce from extinction.
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During our hike in Oregon, we were excited to spot the rare Malheur wire lettuce.
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The Malheur wire lettuce is found only in Oregon.
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Have you seen the Malheur wire lettuce in bloom?
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On our nature walk, we were thrilled to encounter the rare Malheur wire lettuce thriving in its natural habitat.
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Conservationists are focused on preserving the Malheur wire lettuce to ensure it does not become extinct.
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The Malheur wire lettuce can be identified by its mustard-like appearance and is critically threatened in Oregon.
Synonyms
A rare small flowering plant from Oregon that looks like a mustard and is in danger of disappearing
Surface Forms
Morphology
Malheur + wire + lettuce
Knowing 'wire' and 'lettuce' would cue a B1 learner that this is some kind of lettuce-like plant with wiry characteristics, but the full sense — a specific rare flowering species native to Malheur/Oregon and its conservation status — cannot be derived from the parts. The proper name 'Malheur' (a place) and the taxonomic/threatened information are unpredictable from the constituents, so the expression is only partially transparent.
Etymology
Malheur wire lettuce gets its name from the place and the plant's look: Malheur is the area in Oregon where it grows, and wire + lettuce picture its thin, wiry stems and lettuce-like flowers. That's why the name refers to a rare local flowering plant found in Malheur.
