lesser spearwort

9.7

A water plant with long spear-shaped leaves that grows by rivers and ponds

noun

: ranúnculo menor

In New Zealand, lesser spearwort has become naturalized along wet riverbanks.

Examples

The pond was fringed with lesser spearwort and rushes.
Botanists easily identified the lesser spearwort by its narrow, lance-shaped leaves.
The lesser spearwort thrives in wetland areas.
Many gardeners appreciate the lesser spearwort for its unique leaves.
In New Zealand, lesser spearwort has become naturalized along wet riverbanks.
The pond was fringed with lesser spearwort and rushes.
The lesser spearwort thrives in wetland areas.

Synonyms

Ranunculus flammula

vslesser spearwort

Specialized

9.9

A small plant like a buttercup that grows in wet places with bright yellow flowers

is the same plant but not focused on wetland habitat

Surface Forms

lesser spearwort singular

lesser spearworts plural

Morphology

lesser + spearwort

This is a straightforward adjective + noun composition: 'lesser' means smaller/lesser in degree and the head noun refers to a specific plant (with spear-shaped leaves, per the definition). The overall meaning 'a smaller/lesser type/variety of spearwort' is directly and transparently derivable from the constituents, so a B1 learner who knows the words would understand it.

Etymology

Lesser spearwort may come from how the plant looks: its narrow, spear-shaped leaves give the spear part, wort is an old word for 'plant', and lesser marks it as the 'smaller' kind. That's why lesser spearwort means a small plant with spear-like leaves.