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Glite Dictionary
💊 A medicinal tree 🌸 An ornamental tree
horse cassia

horse cassia

9.9
A tropical tree with tall groups of pink flowers used in gardens
  • noun
  • US
translation icon : cassia de caballo
  • We planted a horse cassia in our yard for its beautiful pink flowers.

Examples

  • The landscaper recommended horse cassia for its ornamental value and hardiness.

  • The garden's focal point is a blooming horse cassia that attracts many butterflies.

  • The horse cassia tree blooms beautifully in the summer.

  • Many gardeners love the horse cassia for its vibrant flowers.

  • The garden's focal point is a blooming horse cassia that attracts many butterflies.

  • We planted a horse cassia in our yard for its beautiful pink flowers.

  • The landscaper recommended horse cassia for its ornamental value and hardiness.

Synonyms

Cassia grandis
vshorse cassia
  • Specialized
9.9

A tropical American tree with upright groups of pink flowers often planted for its beauty

is the common English name rather than the formal Latin name
pink shower tree
vshorse cassia
  • US
9.3

A tree from warm places with upright groups of pink flowers grown for decoration

is a common name that does not explicitly call it a tree
pink shower
vshorse cassia
  • US
9.9

A tropical tree that has groups of pink flowers and is grown for decoration

is a longer, more distinctive common name rather than the short form

Surface Forms

horse cassia singular
horse cassias plural

Morphology

horse + cassia

The phrase is a straightforward noun–noun compound where 'cassia' names the tree and 'horse' specifies its relation (a cassia associated with or used for horses). This modifier+head pattern is common and the meaning (a type of cassia connected to horses, e.g. used medicinally for them) is directly derivable by a B1 learner who knows both words.

Etymology

Horse cassia may get its name because farmers often planted the cassia tree near stables and fields so their horses could rest in its shade; the strong image of the pink-flowering tree by the horses helped the name stick, so today it refers to a pretty, 'ornamental' tree with pink or rose flowers.