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cruel plant

cruel plant

9.9
A strong climbing plant with fragrant white or pink flowers that trap moths overnight
  • noun
  • Indian
translation icon : planta cruel
  • The cruel plant temporarily traps moths with its fragrant blooms until dawn.

Examples

  • The cruel plant is known for its unusual method of trapping moths overnight.

  • Scientists study the cruel plant to understand its unique pollination strategy.

  • Gardeners often cultivate cruel plant for its beautiful, fragrant flowers.

  • The cruel plant is known for its beautiful flowers.

  • Have you seen a cruel plant in the garden?

  • Gardeners often cultivate cruel plant for its beautiful, fragrant flowers that attract moths.

  • Botanists are fascinated by the cruel plant due to its unique flowers that lure nocturnal insects.

Synonyms

Araujia sericofera
vscruel plant
  • Specialized
9.9

A climbing shrub with fragrant white or pink flowers that trap moths at night

names a specific twining species that temporarily traps moths until dawn

Surface Forms

cruel plant singular
cruel plants plural

Morphology

cruel + plant

A learner who knows 'cruel' and 'plant' can infer a general meaning — a plant that behaves harmfully or in a cruel way (e.g., trapping animals) — so the compound is partially transparent. However, the precise botanical identity and the specific trapping behavior (temporarily trapping nocturnal moths until dawn) are lexicalized and not predictable from the constituents alone, so prior exposure is needed for full understanding.

Etymology

Cruel plant may come from the way the flowers seem cruel: they hold night moths inside their blooms all night and release them at dawn. So today the name means 'a plant that temporarily traps night moths'.