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Glite Dictionary
Prunus virginiana demissa

Prunus virginiana demissa

9.9
A small wild tree with sour dark red berries that birds and people eat
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : cereza silvestre del oeste
  • Many foragers collect the fruit of Prunus virginiana demissa to make jams and jellies.

Examples

  • The Prunus virginiana demissa thrives in the foothills and canyons of the western United States.

  • Birds feed on the berries of Prunus virginiana demissa throughout the late summer.

  • The Prunus virginiana demissa produces small, dark fruits.

  • Many gardeners appreciate the Prunus virginiana demissa for its hardiness.

  • Birds feed on the berries of Prunus virginiana demissa throughout the late summer.

  • Many foragers collect the fruit of Prunus virginiana demissa to make jams and jellies.

  • The Prunus virginiana demissa thrives in the foothills and canyons of the western United States.

Synonyms

Prunus demissa
vsPrunus virginiana demissa
  • Specialized
9.9

A wild cherry bush from the western United States with tart edible berries

is a specific botanical variety within that species rather than the whole species
western chokecherry
vsPrunus virginiana demissa
  • US
7.5

A small tree or bush with small sour dark fruit used for jam and eaten by birds

is described mainly by its botanical status and edible astringent fruit

Surface Forms

Prunus virginiana demissa singular
Prunus virginiana demissas plural

Morphology

Prunus + virginiana + demissa

This is a scientific Latin trinomial (genus + species + epithet) rather than a normal English phrase, so its specific referent (a particular variety of chokecherry) is not transparently derivable by a B1 learner from the parts. The third element 'demissa' is not a common English lexical item and understanding the name requires botanical/taxonomic knowledge, making the expression opaque to general learners.

Etymology

Prunus virginiana demissa comes from Latin words: Prunus means 'plum' or 'cherry', virginiana points to 'Virginia' or America, and demissa means 'low' or 'hanging down'. So the name helps you picture a low-growing, cherry-like bush with small, sour berries, which fits this western chokecherry.