Nyctaginia capitata

9.9

A long-lived plant from southwestern United States and northern Mexico with sticky stems, thick underground roots, and deep red flowers

noun

Specialized

: Nyctaginia capitata

The roots of Nyctaginia capitata are tuberous, helping the plant survive in arid regions.

Examples

Nyctaginia capitata produces vivid red flowers that bloom in the heat of summer.
Botanists documented a new population of Nyctaginia capitata near the border of Texas and Mexico.
The Nyctaginia capitata thrives in arid conditions.
Have you ever seen a Nyctaginia capitata in bloom?
Nyctaginia capitata is known for its striking red flowers that attract pollinators in the desert.
Many gardeners choose Nyctaginia capitata for its ability to withstand dry climates and its beautiful blooms.
In the wild, Nyctaginia capitata can often be found growing along roadsides in the southwestern U.S.

Synonyms

scarlet musk flower

vsNyctaginia capitata

9.9

A desert plant with sticky branches, thick underground roots, and deep red flowers

is the scientific name for the same plant

Surface Forms

Nyctaginia capitata singular

Nyctaginia capitatas plural

Morphology

Nyctaginia + capitata

This is a scientific Latin binomial (genus + species epithet) functioning as a proper name rather than a compositional English phrase; the species epithet 'capitata' is Latin (not a common English word) and is not transparently interpretable by a B1 learner. Because the label denotes a taxonomic name rather than a meaning built from ordinary English constituents, its referent cannot be derived from the parts, making it opaque to learners.

Etymology

Nyctaginia capitata may come from old Greek and Latin words. The part capitata means 'head' because the flowers form a round 'head', and Nyctaginia may come from a word for 'night' because some relatives open their blooms late in the day, so the name helps you picture a plant with rounded flower heads and night-opening kin.