hairy willowherb

9.5

A plant from Europe and Asia with purple red flowers and hairy stems that often grows near rivers

noun

: epilobio hirsuto

The hairy willowherb thrives in moist soils alongside rivers and streams.

Examples

We found a patch of hairy willowherb blooming in the meadow during late summer.
Gardeners often remove hairy willowherb because it can spread quickly and become invasive.
The hairy willowherb blooms in late summer.
Many gardeners appreciate the beauty of hairy willowherb.
Gardeners often remove hairy willowherb because it can spread quickly and become invasive.
The hairy willowherb thrives in moist soils alongside rivers and streams.
We found a patch of hairy willowherb blooming in the meadow during late summer.

Synonyms

Epilobium hirsutum

vshairy willowherb

Specialized

9.9

A tall wild plant with purple flowers and hairy stems that grows in wet places

means the same but is the usual common name

codlins-and-cream

vshairy willowherb

9.9

A garden plant with purplish-red flowers and hairy stems and leaves

is the wild species found in nature rather than a cultivated form

willowherb

vshairy willowherb

Specialized

9.7

A plant with pink or yellow flowers and fluffy seeds that float in the wind

refers to this specific species with purplish-red flowers and hairy stems

Surface Forms

hairy willowherb singular

hairy willowherbs plural

Morphology

hairy + willowherb

The meaning is directly compositional: the adjective 'hairy' simply qualifies the noun 'willowherb', indicating a willowherb plant with hairy stems or leaves. This adjective+noun pattern is a standard and cross-linguistically common construction, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

The plant name hairy willowherb comes from how it looks: the stems and leaves have fine hairs, so hairy, and the long leaves look a bit like a willow even though it is a small herb. So the name simply describes 'a hairy plant with willow-like leaves'.