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Glite Dictionary
bulbous plant

bulbous plant

3.7
A plant that grows from an underground bulb, like a tulip or daffodil
  • noun
  • /ˈbʌl.bəs plænt/
translation icon : planta bulbosa
  • The bulbous plant bloomed beautifully in spring.

Examples

  • Many bulbous plants thrive in well-drained soil.

  • Garlic, a bulbous plant, is easy to grow in most backyard gardens.

  • Many spring flowers, such as tulips and daffodils, are bulbous plants.

  • The gardener recommended planting bulbous plants in autumn for early blooms next year.

  • The gardener carefully planted several bulbous plants in the spring to ensure a vibrant display of flowers.

  • Spring is the best time to care for bulbous plants like tulips and daffodils as they begin to grow.

  • After harvesting the onions, she stored the bulbous plants in a cool, dry place for later use.

Surface Forms

bulbous plant singular
bulbous plants plural

Morphology

bulbous + plant

The adjective 'bulbous' literally means rounded or bulb-shaped, so a B1 learner who knows 'bulbous' and 'plant' can infer a plant with a swollen or bulb-like base. However, the specific horticultural sense 'a plant that grows from a bulb' relies on domain knowledge of what a bulb is and is not fully predictable from the parts alone, so it is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Bulbous plant comes from the round bulb these plants make under the ground, like an onion, which stores food for the plant. So, bulbous plant means 'a plant that grows from a bulb', such as tulips, daffodils, or garlic.