coral root
- noun
- /ˈkɔrəl ruːt/
- Specialized
:
raíz de coral
- Unlike most plants, the coral root does not rely on photosynthesis but instead absorbs nutrients with the help of fungi.
Examples
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The rare coral root was discovered growing under the pine trees in the forest preserve.
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Wildlife photographers are often pleased to find a patch of blooming coral roots in the woods.
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Look at that beautiful coral root!
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The coral root is a fascinating plant.
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The rare coral root was discovered growing under the pine trees in the forest preserve.
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Unlike most plants, the coral root does not rely on photosynthesis but instead absorbs nutrients with the help of fungi.
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Wildlife photographers are often pleased to find a patch of blooming coral roots in the woods.
Synonyms
A plant with almost no leaves and pale yellow-green stems and flowers
A North American orchid with pale yellow or green stems and almost no leaves
A small plant with leafless stems that grows in North American forests and has white flowers with purple spots
A wildflower with almost no leaves, red stems, and pale pink flowers with brown stripes
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun is partially compositional: a B1 learner who knows 'coral' and 'root' can infer something like a root that looks like or is associated with coral, so there is a visible link to the constituents. However, the specific botanical sense (a genus of leafless wildflowers with fungal dependence) is specialized and not directly derivable from the parts, so prior domain knowledge is needed.
Etymology
The plant coral root is named because its thick, tangled underground stems look like sea coral and it grows like a root-type wildflower. It has no leaves and often gets food through 'fungi' instead of making food from light, so that coral picture helps explain the name.
