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Glite Dictionary
fragrant cliff fern

fragrant cliff fern

9.4
A fern with fragrant leaves that grows on rocky cliffs in cold regions
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : helecho fragante
  • The fragrant cliff fern thrived in the cool, shaded areas of the northern forest.

Examples

  • Botanists were excited to discover a patch of fragrant cliff ferns along the rocky slope.

  • Her garden boasts a variety of ferns, including the rare fragrant cliff fern.

  • The fragrant cliff fern grows abundantly in shady areas.

  • Many gardeners love the fragrant cliff fern for its unique scent.

  • Her garden boasts a variety of ferns, including the rare fragrant cliff fern.

  • Many gardeners love the fragrant cliff fern for its unique scent.

  • Botanists were excited to discover a patch of fragrant cliff ferns along the rocky slope.

Synonyms

Dryopteris fragrans
vsfragrant cliff fern
  • Specialized
9.9

A small fern with sweet-smelling leaves that grows in cold northern regions

is the general common name for that fragrant species
fragrant wood fern
vsfragrant cliff fern
  • UK
8.2

A plant that grows in shady woods with many long leaves that smell pleasant

is the broader term used for the fragrant fern rather than the species name
fragrant shield fern
vsfragrant cliff fern
  • UK
8.9

A green plant with divided leaves that smell pleasant

is the general label for that fragrant plant rather than the scientific title

Surface Forms

fragrant cliff fern singular
fragrant cliff ferns plural

Morphology

fragrant + cliff + fern

The phrase is fully compositional: 'fragrant' (having a pleasant smell) modifying 'cliff fern' (a fern associated with cliffs) yields a fern that is both associated with cliffs and emits a fragrance, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents can infer the meaning. This straightforward adjective + noun + noun descriptive pattern is a regular, cross-linguistically common construction and therefore easily transparent.

Etymology

The name fragrant cliff fern probably comes from a simple picture: a fern with nice-smelling leaves (fragrant) that often grows on rocky edges (cliff). That's why the name means 'a fern with nice-smelling leaves that grows on cliffs'.