Mexican flameleaf
- noun
- US
:
flor de nochebuena
- Caution is advised, as the sap of the Mexican flameleaf can be toxic if handled carelessly.
Examples
-
The Mexican flameleaf attracts butterflies with its colorful bracts.
-
The garden was ablaze with the brilliant red of the Mexican flameleaf.
-
The Mexican flameleaf is known for its vibrant colors.
-
Many gardeners love the Mexican flameleaf for its stunning appearance.
-
Be careful when planting the Mexican flameleaf, as its sap can cause skin irritation.
-
The Mexican flameleaf is popular in gardens for its striking red bracts and ability to attract pollinators.
-
In the park, the Mexican flameleaf bloomed brightly, drawing attention from everyone passing by.
Synonyms
3
7.0
A tropical plant with bright red leaves that people put on tables at Christmas
A tropical American shrub with poisonous milky sap and bright red leaf-like parts around small yellow flowers
A tropical plant with bright red leaves and poisonous milky sap
A plant from Mexico with bright red leaves used as a holiday decoration
A plant with bright red leaves often used as a Christmas decoration
A plant with red leaves like a poinsettia that people use to decorate at Christmas
Surface Forms
Morphology
Mexican + flameleaf
An average B1 learner who knows 'Mexican' (origin) and the constituents 'flame' + 'leaf' can readily infer a plant with flame‑like (bright red) leaves or bracts from the compound. Although 'flameleaf' as a single dictionary entry is rare, the meaning is compositionally transparent and follows common noun‑compounding patterns, so the overall sense is predictable without prior exposure.
Etymology
The plant name Mexican flameleaf may come from its look: the bright red, leaf-like parts around its small flowers look like little flames, so flame and leaf describe that image. The word 'Mexican' shows where the plant comes from, and that is why the name now means a tropical plant with red parts and poisonous sap.