Virginia spring beauty
- noun
- US
:
belleza primaveral de Virginia
- The Virginia spring beauty blooms early each year, carpeting the forest floor with delicate flowers.
Examples
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We spotted several Virginia spring beauty plants during our hike in the Appalachian woods.
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Gardeners appreciate Virginia spring beauty for its charming pink-tinged petals and low-growing habit.
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The Virginia spring beauty blooms in early spring.
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Look at that Virginia spring beauty!
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Gardeners appreciate Virginia spring beauty for its charming pink-tinged petals and low-growing habit.
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The Virginia spring beauty blooms early each year, carpeting the forest floor with delicate flowers.
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We spotted several Virginia spring beauty plants during our hike in the Appalachian woods.
Synonyms
A small spring wildflower with white flowers often with pink lines
A small plant with thick leaves and white or pink flowers in spring
A small North American plant with two thick leaves, pink or white flowers, and a small edible underground bulb
Surface Forms
Morphology
A B1 learner who knows 'Virginia', 'spring', and 'beauty' can plausibly infer this refers to something attractive associated with spring in Virginia—likely a flower or plant—but they would not be able to derive the precise botanical sense (a small perennial herb) or that it names a specific species. The place+season+noun pattern makes the phrase partially compositional and recognizable, so the meaning is partly transparent but not fully predictable.
Etymology
The plant name Virginia spring beauty may come from a simple picture: Virginia because it grows in that area, and spring beauty because it makes pretty little flowers in 'spring'. So the name tells you it is a small, beautiful plant that blooms close to the ground early in the year.
