common wood sorrel
- noun
- /ˈkɒmən wʊd ˈsɔːrəl/
- UK
:
sorrel común
- She identified the plant as common wood sorrel by its distinctive heart-shaped leaves and purple-veined petals.
Examples
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We found patches of common wood sorrel carpeting the forest floor beneath the beech trees.
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The delicate flowers of the common wood sorrel added a splash of white to the shaded woodland.
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The common wood sorrel thrives in shady areas of the forest.
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We found some common wood sorrels near the old oak tree.
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The delicate white flowers of the common wood sorrel attract many pollinators in the forest.
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You can easily recognize common wood sorrel by its heart-shaped leaves and the purple markings on its petals.
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In spring, the common wood sorrel blooms beautifully under the canopy of tall trees.
Synonyms
A small forest plant with three heart-shaped leaves and white flowers with purple veins
A plant with three-part heart-shaped leaves and white flowers with purple veins often in damp woods
A small plant with clover-like leaves and yellow or white flowers that grows in woods and meadows
Surface Forms
Morphology
All three constituents contribute literal, compositional meanings: 'sorrel' is a type of plant, 'wood' specifies the woodland habitat, and 'common' indicates it is frequently occurring. The phrase therefore transparently denotes a sorrel that is common in woods, a straightforward compositional pattern learners can infer from the parts.
Etymology
Common wood sorrel gets its name from where it grows and how it tastes: wood because it lives in forests, and sorrel from an old word for 'sour' because the small, heart-shaped leaves taste sour. So the name helps you remember it as the common, sour-tasting plant of the woods.
