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Zantedeschia aethiopica

Zantedeschia aethiopica

9.9
A plant with large arrow-shaped leaves and a showy white trumpet-shaped flower often called calla lily
  • noun
  • /zænˌtɛdɛˈskiə eɪˈθiːəpɪkə/
translation icon : lirio de agua
  • The garden was filled with Zantedeschia aethiopica, their pure white flowers shining all summer.

Examples

  • She arranged several Zantedeschia aethiopica in a vase for the wedding decorations.

  • The Zantedeschia aethiopica blooms beautifully in the spring.

  • Botanists admire Zantedeschia aethiopica for its striking contrast between the white spathe and yellow spadix.

  • Many gardeners love the Zantedeschia aethiopica for its striking flowers.

  • Many gardeners value Zantedeschia aethiopica for its elegant white flowers and lush green leaves.

  • In her garden, Zantedeschia aethiopica adds a touch of sophistication with its beautiful blooms.

  • The florist showcased several arrangements featuring Zantedeschia aethiopica, highlighting their stunning appearance.

Synonyms

calla
vsZantedeschia aethiopica
5 8.1

A plant with heart-shaped leaves and a white flower shaped like a funnel that grows near water

has the same flower form but notes different leaf shape and wet habitat
calla lily
vsZantedeschia aethiopica
  • South African
4 5.3

A tall plant with a large white flower that people grow for gardens and weddings

is an alternative common name used for identical ornamental plant
arum lily
vsZantedeschia aethiopica
  • South African
7.9

A garden plant with a large white flower often used in bouquets

is the interchangeable common name for the same species

Surface Forms

Morphology

Zantedeschia + aethiopica

This is a Latin binomial combining a genus name and a species epithet, so a learner who recognises 'Zantedeschia' would correctly infer it names a particular plant in that genus. However, 'aethiopica' is a Latin epithet (not a regular English word) and the specific ornamental sense and common name ('arum/calla lily') are not directly derivable from the parts, so the compositional link is only partial.

Etymology

Zantedeschia aethiopica is a scientific plant name that is named after a person and a place: Zantedeschia honors an Italian botanist called Zantedeschi, and aethiopica is an old Latin word meaning 'from Africa'. So the long name shows who the plant honors and where it comes from, and today it still refers to the white arum or calla lily gardeners know.