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Glite Dictionary
Polystichum scopulinum

Polystichum scopulinum

9.9
A fern that grows on rocks in western North America
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Polystichum scopulinum
  • The mountain holly fern, or Polystichum scopulinum, is valued for its hardiness in garden rockeries.

Examples

  • Polystichum scopulinum is commonly found growing in rocky areas throughout western North America.

  • Researchers studied the distribution of Polystichum scopulinum in several mountainous regions.

  • The Polystichum scopulinum thrives in rocky environments.

  • Have you seen the Polystichum scopulinum in the garden?

  • Polystichum scopulinum is commonly found growing in rocky areas throughout western North America.

  • The mountain holly fern, or Polystichum scopulinum, is valued for its hardiness in garden rockeries.

  • Researchers studied the distribution of Polystichum scopulinum in several mountainous regions.

Synonyms

western holly fern
vsPolystichum scopulinum
  • Specialized
8.4

A North American plant with thick, shiny, sharp-edged leaves that grows in mountains

has identical meaning but uses alternate common names and habitat emphasis

Surface Forms

Polystichum scopulinum singular
Polystichum scopulina singular

Morphology

Polystichum + scopulinum

This is a Latin binomial (scientific) name: 'Polystichum' identifies a genus of holly ferns but 'scopulinum' is not a familiar English word and is marked as not found in the dictionary. Scientific species names function as conventional labels rather than compositional phrases, so a B1 learner who knows the listed constituents would not be able to infer the species meaning or habitat from them.

Etymology

Polystichum scopulinum gets its name from old Greek and Latin words: poly means 'many', stichum means 'rows', and scopulinum means 'rock'. So the name paints the image of a fern with many rows of leaves that lives on rocks, which explains the common name 'rock sword fern'.