elkhorn fern
- noun
- /ˈɛlkhɔrn fɜrn/
- Australian
:
helecho cuerno de alce
- She mounted an elkhorn fern on a piece of driftwood for a striking display in her living room.
Examples
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The elkhorn fern thrives in humid, shaded environments and is popular in tropical gardens.
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Botanical gardens often feature the elkhorn fern among their collection of exotic plants.
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The elkhorn fern thrives in humid environments.
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Have you seen an elkhorn fern before?
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Botanical gardens often feature the elkhorn fern among their collection of exotic plants.
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She mounted an elkhorn fern on a piece of driftwood for a striking display in her living room.
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The elkhorn fern thrives in humid, shaded environments and is popular in tropical gardens.
Synonyms
1
8.2
A coral with wide branches like elk antlers
A fern with split, antler-like leaves often grown as a houseplant
A fern with antler-like leaves often grown as a decorative plant
A fern with large antler-shaped leaves often grown on wooden boards
Surface Forms
Morphology
This is a descriptive noun-noun compound: 'elkhorn' (elk antler) + 'fern' yields a fern whose fronds resemble elk antlers. The meaning is directly derivable from the constituents and follows common compounding patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily infer the referent.
Etymology
Elkhorn fern is named for the plant's large leaves that look like the antlers of an elk, so elk and horn describe its shape. That's why the name refers to this kind of fern often grown as a 'decorative plant'.