Nebraska fern
- noun
- Specialized
:
helecho de Nebraska
- Cattle have been accidentally poisoned after eating Nebraska fern that grows in wet pastures.
Examples
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The leaves of the Nebraska fern resemble those of a true fern but are highly toxic.
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You should avoid touching Nebraska fern when hiking, as all parts of the plant are extremely poisonous.
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The Nebraska fern can be found near wetlands.
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Many gardeners are wary of the Nebraska fern due to its toxicity.
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Cattle have been accidentally poisoned after eating Nebraska fern that grows in wet pastures.
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You should avoid touching Nebraska fern when hiking, as all parts of the plant are extremely poisonous.
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The leaves of the Nebraska fern resemble those of a true fern but are highly toxic.
Synonyms
1
8.8
A tall poisonous plant with fern-like leaves and clusters of white flowers
A very poisonous European and African plant with fernlike leaves and white flower clusters in damp places
A tall very poisonous plant with leaves like a fern and small white flowers
A large plant with leaves like a fern and white flowers with all parts very poisonous
A large plant with leaves like a fern, small white flowers, and all parts very poisonous if eaten
A tall plant with fernlike leaves and white flowers that can make animals or people very ill
Surface Forms
Morphology
This is a straightforward place-name + noun compound: a B1 learner who knows 'Nebraska' and 'fern' will readily infer it refers to a kind of fern associated with Nebraska. Although specific botanical details (poisonous, native range) cannot be derived, the basic classificatory meaning 'a type of fern' is directly compositional and cross-linguistically common.
Etymology
Nebraska fern probably got its name because people in Nebraska saw a large plant with leaves that 'look like a fern' growing in wet fields. So today the name points to a fernlike plant that is 'poisonous' and often found in damp pastures.