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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
translation icon : 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

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
bog laurel
vsbog kalmia
  • US
9.9

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

is a regional variant of that common name

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.