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Glite Dictionary
hedgehog cereus

hedgehog cereus

9.9
A cactus with many sharp spines and bright flowers
  • noun
  • /ˈhɛdʒhɔg ˈsɛriəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : cactus cereus
  • The hedgehog cereus blooms in spring with vivid pink flowers.

Examples

  • Gardeners often cultivate the hedgehog cereus for its unique appearance and resilience.

  • I saw a stunning hedgehog cereus at the botanical garden.

  • A row of hedgehog cereus plants lined the desert trail.

  • The hedgehog cereus blooms beautifully in the summer.

  • A row of hedgehog cereus plants lined the desert trail.

  • Gardeners often cultivate the hedgehog cereus for its unique appearance and resilience.

  • The hedgehog cereus blooms in spring with vivid pink flowers.

Synonyms

Echinocereus
vshedgehog cereus
  • Specialized
9.9

A type of small cactus with ribbed stems that grows in dry parts of Mexico and the southwestern United States

is one species within that group known for spiny stems and bright flowers

Surface Forms

hedgehog cereus singular
hedgehog cereuses plural

Morphology

hedgehog + Cereus

This is a straightforward noun-noun compound: 'hedgehog' (a spiny mammal) + 'cereus' (a type of cactus), so the meaning — a spiny cactus resembling a hedgehog — follows directly from the constituents. The compositional naming pattern is regular and predictable, so a B1 learner who knows both words would understand the MWE.

Etymology

The noun hedgehog cereus comes from how the plant looks. The spiny stems make it look like a hedgehog, and cereus is an old name for a 'cactus', so the name helps you picture a small, spiny plant that blooms bright flowers.