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Glite Dictionary
lesser twayblade

lesser twayblade

9.9
A small wild orchid with two triangular leaves and a short cluster of green to red flowers
  • noun
  • /ˈlɛsər ˈtweɪˌbleɪd/
  • UK
translation icon : orquídea menor
  • The lesser twayblade is often overlooked due to its small size and greenish flowers.

Examples

  • The lesser twayblade can be found in moist areas, typically blooming in late spring.

  • We spotted a rare lesser twayblade growing in the damp woodland soil.

  • Botanists recorded the presence of lesser twayblades across the forest floor in early summer.

  • The lesser twayblade is a rare orchid species.

  • I saw a lesser twayblade in the forest yesterday.

  • During our hike, we discovered a beautiful lesser twayblade nestled among the ferns.

  • In the nature reserve, the lesser twayblade is one of the many orchids that attract curious botanists.

Synonyms

Listera cordata
vslesser twayblade
  • Specialized
9.9

A small orchid with two heart-shaped leaves and a loose cluster of greenish-brown flowers that grows in moist northern woods

has two triangular leaves instead of heart-shaped ones

Surface Forms

lesser twayblade singular
lesser twayblades plural

Morphology

lesser + twayblade

The phrase is a straightforward adjectival composition: 'lesser' (smaller or reduced) modifying 'twayblade' (a type of wild orchid), so it denotes a smaller/smaller-sized twayblade. This is a regular, compositional pattern that a B1 learner who knows both constituents can readily infer.

Etymology

Lesser twayblade gets its name from old words for 'two' and 'leaf': tway means 'two' and blade means 'leaf', because the plant has just two flat leaves. So 'lesser' shows it is the smaller kind, and today the name means a small orchid with two leaves and tiny greenish or reddish flowers.