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Glite Dictionary
fen orchid

fen orchid

9.9
A small plant that grows in marshes with two low leaves and dull yellow green flowers
  • noun
  • /fɛn ˈɔrkɪd/
  • UK
translation icon : orquídea fen
  • The dull yellow-green flowers of the fen orchid help it blend into the surrounding grasses.

Examples

  • The fen orchid is now considered endangered in many parts of its native range.

  • Botanists surveyed the marsh to find specimens of the rare fen orchid.

  • The fen orchid thrives in marshy conditions.

  • Have you ever seen a fen orchid in the wild?

  • The fen orchid is now considered endangered in many parts of its native range.

  • Botanists surveyed the marsh to find specimens of the rare fen orchid.

  • The dull yellow-green flowers of the fen orchid help it blend into the surrounding grasses.

Synonyms

fen orchis
vsfen orchid
  • UK
9.9

A small orchid from Europe and eastern North America with two low leaves and dull yellow-green flowers

focuses on occurrence in wetland areas rather than flower structure
Liparis loeselii
vsfen orchid
  • UK
9.9

A small orchid that grows on the ground with two low leaves and dull yellow-green flowers along a stem

stresses wetland habitat presence instead of detailed botanical character traits

Surface Forms

fen orchid singular
fen orchids plural

Morphology

fen + orchid

The meaning 'a small orchid found in wetland areas' is directly and compositionally derived from 'fen' (a marshy area) + 'orchid' (a flowering plant). This is a literal noun–noun habitat compound, a common and transparent formation cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Fen orchid is a simple name: a fen is a low, wet area or 'marsh', and an orchid is a small flower. So, a fen orchid is an orchid that grows in fens and other wet places.