carline thistle
- noun
- UK
:
cardo carlina
- The carline thistle is often found growing in dry, rocky habitats across Europe.
Examples
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The spiky appearance of the carline thistle makes it easily recognizable in the field.
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Many herbalists use dried carline thistle roots for traditional remedies.
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Look at that stunning carline thistle over there!
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The carline thistle blooms beautifully in summer.
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The carline thistle is often found growing in dry, rocky habitats across Europe.
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Many herbalists use dried carline thistle roots for traditional remedies.
-
The spiky appearance of the carline thistle makes it easily recognizable in the field.
Synonyms
15
5.6
A wild plant with prickly leaves and purple flowers
A spiky plant like a thistle that has a large decorative flowerhead
A Mediterranean plant with spiny leaves and large daisy-like flower heads
How Spiky
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is directly referential: 'carline' (a spiny flowering plant of the genus Carlina) + 'thistle' (a spiny plant) yields a thistle of the Carline/Carlina type. This taxonomic/compound naming pattern is compositional and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the meaning.
Etymology
Carline thistle may come from a story about Emperor Charlemagne, called 'Carolus' in old books, because its large, silvery flower head looks like a small crown. So the name stayed and today carline thistle means that spiky, crown-like plant.