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Glite Dictionary
bog kalmia

bog kalmia

9.9
A low-growing shrub in bogs of the northwest United States with small purple flowers and pale blue-green leaves below
  • noun
  • US
: kalmia de pantano
  • The bog kalmia thrives in wet, acidic soils.

Examples

  • The delicate blooms of the bog kalmia added a splash of color to the wetland.

  • Researchers studied how bog kalmia adapts to the acidic soil of northern bogs.

  • Hikers were warned not to pick the protected bog kalmia in the nature reserve.

  • Have you seen the bog kalmia blooming this spring?

  • The delicate blooms of the bog kalmia added a splash of color to the wetland.

  • Researchers studied how bog kalmia adapts to the acidic soil of northern bogs.

  • Hikers were warned not to pick the protected bog kalmia in the nature reserve.

Synonyms

bog laurel
vsbog kalmia
  • US
1 9.9

A small evergreen shrub that grows in bogs with pale leaves and purple flowers

is a regional variant of that common name
Kalmia polifolia
vsbog kalmia
  • Specialized
9.9

A low evergreen shrub that grows in wet bogs and has small purple flowers and pale leaves

is the common everyday name used regionally

Surface Forms

bog kalmia singular
bog kalmias plural

Morphology

bog + kalmia

The phrase is compositional: 'bog' specifies the habitat and 'kalmia' names the shrub, so the meaning is simply a kalmia that grows in boggy areas. This follows regular noun–noun modification patterns found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Bog kalmia comes from bog, meaning 'wet, marshy ground', and kalmia, a name given in honor of Pehr Kalm, a Swedish plant collector who studied North American plants. So the name tells you it is a kalmia that grows in a 'bog', which helps you remember this small shrub with pale leaves and purple flowers lives in wet places.