Rhus laurina

9.9

A small evergreen shrub from California with fragrant leaves and whitish berries

noun

Specialized

: Rhus laurina

Gardeners in California often plant Rhus laurina for its drought tolerance and attractive berries.

Examples

Wildlife are attracted to the berries of Rhus laurina during the late summer months.
The hills were dotted with Rhus laurina, adding fragrance to the spring air.
The Rhus laurina is often found in California's coastal regions.
I spotted a Rhus laurina shrub while hiking last weekend.
Gardeners in California often plant Rhus laurina for its drought tolerance and attractive berries.
The hills were dotted with Rhus laurina, adding fragrance to the spring air.
Wildlife are attracted to the berries of Rhus laurina during the late summer months.

Synonyms

laurel sumac

vsRhus laurina

9.9

A small evergreen bush from California with scented leaves and whitish berries

is the same but notes occasional placement in a different genus

Malosma laurina

vsRhus laurina

Specialized

9.9

A green bushy plant from California with strong-smelling leaves and small pale berries

is the common classification that mentions occasional placement in a different genus

Surface Forms

Rhus laurina singular

Rhus laurinas plural

Morphology

Rhus + laurina

Knowing 'Rhus' (a genus of sumacs) lets a learner infer this is a type/species of sumac, but the epithet 'laurina' is a Latin specific name and is not a productive English word entry, so the detailed meaning (an aromatic evergreen shrub with whitish berries) cannot be derived from the constituents. Binomial botanical names give partial cues (genus-level) but require specialized or Latin knowledge for full interpretation, so the transparency is limited.

Etymology

Rhus laurina comes from old names: Rhus is the word for 'sumac' and laurina means 'laurel-like'. So the name helps you picture a sumac that looks a bit like a laurel, with shiny leaves and fragrant berries.