Petasites vulgaris

9.9

A small plant from Europe and Asia with large leaves and pink flowers that grows in wet places

noun

Specialized

: Petasites vulgaris

The lilac-pink flowers of Petasites vulgaris appear early in spring before the leaves fully emerge.

Examples

The broad leaves of Petasites vulgaris provide excellent ground cover in damp woodland areas.
Many gardeners plant Petasites vulgaris for its ability to thrive in moist, shaded gardens.
Look at that Petasites vulgaris!
What a lovely Petasites vulgaris!
Many gardeners plant Petasites vulgaris for its ability to thrive in moist, shaded gardens.
The broad leaves of Petasites vulgaris provide excellent ground cover in damp woodland areas.
The lilac-pink flowers of Petasites vulgaris appear early in spring before the leaves fully emerge.

Synonyms

bog rhubarb

vsPetasites vulgaris

9.9

A small plant with broad leaves and pale pink flowers that grows in wet places

is the identical sense but phrased with a different common term

butterbur

vsPetasites vulgaris

9.9

A plant with very large leaves that grows in wet places like riverbanks

focuses on the general small herb without stressing perennial or clustered flowers

Surface Forms

Petasites vulgaris singular

Petasites vulgaris plural

Morphology

Petasites + vulgaris

The binomial combines a genus name ('Petasites' = perennial herbs) with a Latin epithet ('vulgaris' = widespread/typical), so a learner who knows those constituents can infer this refers to a common species of Petasites. However, the specific botanical traits in the full definition (leaf shape, flower color, habitat) are not fully predictable from the parts and the Latin taxonomic convention may be unfamiliar to some learners, so the transparency is partial.

Etymology

Petasites vulgaris comes from old words: Petasites meant a 'wide hat' because the plant's large, round leaves look like a hat, and vulgaris means 'common'. So the name paints a simple picture of a 'common' little herb with big, hat-like leaves.