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Glite Dictionary
Nemophila menziesii

Nemophila menziesii

9.9
A small California plant with blue flowers that have dark spots
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Nemophila menziesii
  • Many hikers delight in the fields of Nemophila menziesii that bloom each spring in California.

Examples

  • Botanists often refer to Nemophila menziesii as 'baby blue eyes' due to its striking flower color.

  • The garden's border was brightened by the gentle blooms of Nemophila menziesii.

  • The Nemophila menziesii blooms beautifully in the spring.

  • Have you seen the Nemophila menziesii in the garden?

  • In California, the fields are filled with beautiful Nemophila menziesii, also known as baby blue eyes.

  • The delicate petals of Nemophila menziesii attract many photographers during the blooming season.

  • During springtime, many gardeners plant Nemophila menziesii for its charming blue flowers.

Synonyms

baby blue-eyes
vsNemophila menziesii
  • US
8.7

A small plant with soft blue flowers with dark spots that grows in California

is the formal scientific name used instead of the common name

Surface Forms

Nemophila menziesii singular
Nemophila menziesiis plural

Morphology

Nemophila + menziesii

This is a Latin scientific binomial: knowing the genus name 'Nemophila' and an unfamiliar epithet 'menziesii' does not let a B1 learner derive the descriptive meaning (delicate annual with blue flowers). Species epithets are typically eponyms or arbitrary labels and the whole phrase functions as a proper name rather than a compositional English phrase, so its meaning is not predictable from the parts.

Etymology

Nemophila menziesii may come from Greek words: nemo meaning 'wood' and phila meaning 'loving', so Nemophila means 'wood-loving'. The second part, menziesii, comes from a plant collector named Menzies, so the full name helps you remember this delicate wildflower often found in fields and near woods.