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Glite Dictionary
artillery plant

artillery plant

9.9
A tropical plant that shoots its pollen in small bursts
  • noun
  • /ɑːrˈtɪləri plænt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : planta de artillería
  • The artillery plant releases its pollen with a small but impressive burst.

Examples

  • Despite its name, the artillery plant is completely harmless to touch.

  • Many gardeners appreciate the artillery plant for its unique pollination method.

  • The artillery plant is fascinating to observe.

  • Have you seen an artillery plant in bloom?

  • The artillery plant is known for its remarkable ability to shoot pollen into the air.

  • In the garden, the artillery plant attracts attention when it explosively releases its pollen.

  • When the artillery plant bursts, it creates a fascinating display of pollen that can surprise onlookers.

Synonyms

Pilea microphylla
vsartillery plant
  • Specialized
9.9

A small tropical plant with tiny leaves that releases pollen suddenly and is grown for decoration

is the common or informal name rather than the scientific label

Surface Forms

artillery plant singular
artillery plants plural

Morphology

artillery + plant

The compound combines a known word 'plant' with 'artillery' used metaphorically to signal explosive discharge, so a learner who knows both words could plausibly infer it refers to a plant with an explosive or projectile quality. However, the specific sense (a particular tropical species that explosively discharges pollen) is metaphorical and world-knowledge dependent rather than strictly compositional, so the meaning is not fully predictable without prior exposure.

Etymology

Artillery plant gets its name from the way it shoots out pollen in tiny, popping bursts that look like small explosions. People compared those little shots to artillery, which means 'big guns', so the name stuck and now refers to this plant with explosive pollen.