matrimony vine
- noun
- Gardeners plant matrimony vine both for its ornamental flowers and its traditional uses.
Examples
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The matrimony vine is also called goji in some regions due to its edible fruit.
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The matrimony vine blooms beautifully in spring.
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Many herbal teas include dried matrimony vine berries for their health benefits.
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I saw a matrimony vine growing in the garden.
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Gardeners often grow matrimony vine for its vibrant flowers and colorful berries.
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In the countryside, matrimony vine can be seen climbing on fences and walls in the summer.
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The bright berries of the matrimony vine attract various birds to the garden.
Synonyms
A thorny bush or climbing plant with bright flowers and berries
A bush with thorny branches, purple flowers, and orange-red berries
Surface Forms
Morphology
matrimony + vine
While 'vine' clearly signals a climbing plant, the modifier 'matrimony' (marriage) does not transparently describe the plant's form, flowers, berries, or taxonomic identity. 'Matrimony vine' is a conventional common name for Lycium species whose connection to 'matrimony' is historical or arbitrary, so a B1 learner knowing the parts would not reliably infer the intended botanical meaning.
Etymology
Matrimony vine may come from old wedding customs. People used the flexible vine and its bright berries to decorate brides, so matrimony, meaning 'marriage', came to be the name of this shrub with showy flowers and berries.