Oxandra lanceolata
- noun
- Specialized
:
Oxandra lanceolata
- Many of the walking sticks imported from South America are made from Oxandra lanceolata.
Examples
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The dense forests of the Caribbean are home to Oxandra lanceolata trees, valued in the timber industry.
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The wood of Oxandra lanceolata is highly valued for its strength.
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Oxandra lanceolata is prized for its tough, elastic wood used in tool handles and sporting goods.
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Many craftsmen prefer Oxandra lanceolata for making furniture.
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Oxandra lanceolata is valued for its strong and flexible wood, making it ideal for crafting various tools.
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Craftsmen often use Oxandra lanceolata to create durable furniture due to its excellent properties.
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In South America, Oxandra lanceolata is commonly harvested for its commercially useful and resilient timber.
Synonyms
A tropical tree with very strong, flexible wood used for tools and walking sticks
How Strong
- Specialized
52
3.5
- Specialized
- US
4
3.5
3
3.7
36
2.8
Surface Forms
Morphology
Oxandra + lanceolata
This is a Latin binomial: Oxandra (a genus of tropical trees) plus the epithet lanceolata (etymologically ‘lance-shaped’), so a learner who knows both constituents can infer it denotes a particular Oxandra species, likely with lance-shaped features. However, the specific commercial sense ‘lancewood’ and the tree’s wood properties are not predictable from the name alone, and many B1 learners will not recognize Latin epithets, making the transparency only partial.
Etymology
Oxandra lanceolata gets the second part of its name, lanceolata, from the Latin word for 'lance' or 'spear' because its long, narrow leaves look like little spears. Its strong, flexible wood became known as 'lancewood', so the name helps you remember a tough tree used for tool handles and walking sticks.