ligneous plant
- noun
- /ˈlɪɡnɪəs plænt/
- Specialized
:
planta leñosa
- Most shrubs and trees are considered ligneous plants rather than herbaceous ones.
Examples
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A pine tree is a classic example of a ligneous plant due to its woody trunk.
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Because it has tough, woody stems, the oak is classified as a ligneous plant.
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The ligneous plant in my garden is thriving.
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Many ligneous plants can survive harsh conditions.
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An oak tree is a well-known example of a ligneous plant because of its sturdy, woody structure.
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Due to its perennial nature and hard stem, the cedar is classified as a ligneous plant.
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Plants like roses and hibiscus are often considered ligneous plants when they develop woody stems.
Synonyms
1
3.8
A plant with hard stems, like a tree or shrub
Antonyms
How Woody
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a plant that has hard, woody parts' is directly and compositionally derived from 'ligneous' (consisting of or resembling wood) plus 'plant' (a plant). This adjective+noun combination follows standard semantic composition and has clear cross-linguistic parallels, so a learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Ligneous plant comes from an old word meaning 'wood' and paints a clear image: a plant with hard, wooden stems. That's why ligneous describes plants like trees and shrubs that have tough, woody stems.