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Mexican nut pine

Mexican nut pine

7.7
A small pine tree from Mexico and southern Texas with edible seeds and short needles
  • noun
  • US
translation icon : pino piñonero
  • The Mexican nut pine is valued for its edible seeds, commonly known as pine nuts.

Examples

  • Many animals in southern Texas rely on the Mexican nut pine for food and shelter.

  • Botanists are studying the ecological role of the Mexican nut pine in arid regions.

  • The Mexican nut pine is known for its edible seeds.

  • Many Mexican nut pines grow in the mountainous regions of Mexico.

  • The Mexican nut pine provides essential food for various wildlife in its native habitat.

  • Many residents enjoy the flavor of the edible seeds from the Mexican nut pine in their dishes.

  • In southern Texas, the Mexican nut pine thrives in dry environments, adapting well to the local climate.

Synonyms

Pinus cembroides
vsMexican nut pine
  • Specialized
9.9

A small pine tree from Mexico and southern Texas that makes edible seeds called pinyon nuts

is the common, nontechnical name for the same species
pinon pine
vsMexican nut pine
  • US
7.9

A small tree with needle leaves that makes edible seeds called pine nuts

is the other name used for the same tree

How Big

pine
130 1.0
Mexican nut pine
  • US
7.7
sapling
16 2.7
seedling
20 2.8

Surface Forms

Morphology

Mexican + nut + pine

The phrase is a straightforward noun phrase whose meaning is compositionally built from its parts: a pine (tree) that produces edible nuts and is associated with Mexico. A B1 learner who knows 'Mexican', 'nut', and 'pine' can infer this refers to a pine tree from Mexico with edible seeds; this follows a common, cross-linguistic modifier + noun pattern.

Etymology

Mexican nut pine is named for what the tree is and where it grows: Mexican because it comes from Mexico and southern Texas, nut for the tasty 'pine nuts' it makes, and pine because it is a pine tree. So, the name helps you remember it is a small pine that has edible seeds, also called 'piñon pine'.