common devil's claw
- noun
- US
:
garra del diablo común
- The seed pod of the common devil's claw is easily recognized by its long, curved beak.
Examples
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The flowers of the common devil's claw are a striking mixture of white, yellow, and purple.
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The common devil's claw blooms in the spring.
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Gardeners in the Southwest often encounter the common devil's claw in wildflower meadows.
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Many gardeners admire the common devil's claw for its beauty.
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Gardeners in the Southwest often encounter the common devil's claw in wildflower meadows.
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The seed pod of the common devil's claw is easily recognized by its long, curved beak.
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The common devil's claw blooms in vibrant colors during the spring season.
Synonyms
A plant with pale flowers spotted purple and a long curved seed pod like a claw
A yearly plant with large pale flowers and long curved seed pods like a claw
A flowering plant with long beak-like white or yellow flowers marked with purple
A plant with large pale flowers and a long curved seed pod like a beak
A plant with large pale flowers and a long curved beak-like seed pod
A plant with large spotted flowers and a long curved beak-shaped flower part
Surface Forms
Morphology
A B1 learner who knows 'common' + 'devil' + 'claw' can plausibly infer something with a claw-like or hooked shape (and that 'common' signals a widespread variety), so the basic descriptive idea is accessible. However, the specific botanical sense (an annual plant with pale mottled flowers and a long curving seed pod beak) and that this is the established name of a plant species are not fully predictable from the parts alone, making it only partially transparent.
Etymology
Common devil's claw gets its name from the plant's long, curved seed pods that look like a hooked claw. Because the pods often catch on animal fur and look a little frightening, people added 'devil's' and the name stuck to this plant.
