friar's-cowl

9.9

A plant with a dark, hood-like flower that grows from a thick root

noun

: cabeza de fraile

With its dark, hooded spathe, the friar's-cowl is easily recognized among local flora.

Examples

The unusual flowers of the friar's-cowl add a gothic charm to Mediterranean gardens.
Botanists have documented the friar's-cowl in the wilds of the Canary Islands.
The friar's-cowl blooms beautifully in the spring.
I found a friar's-cowl plant at the local nursery.
The unusual flowers of the friar's-cowl add a gothic charm to Mediterranean gardens.
With its dark, hooded spathe, the friar's-cowl is easily recognized among local flora.
Botanists have documented the friar's-cowl in the wilds of the Canary Islands.

Synonyms

Arisarum vulgare

vsfriar's-cowl

Specialized

9.9

A small plant with a dark maroon hood-shaped flower that grows in the Mediterranean region

is the common vernacular name rather than the Latin scientific name

Surface Forms

friar's-cowl singular

friar's-cowls plural

Morphology

friar's-cowl = friar + cowl (semi-transparent) = friar + cowl

The components 'friar' and 'cowl' are clear, but the plant name is a metaphorical/specialized use describing shape rather than a literal friar's garment.

Etymology

Friar's-cowl gets its name from the plant's dark, hood-shaped flower that looks like a friar's cowl, which is a monk's 'hood'. So the name helps you remember the plant by its hood-like shape.