moxie plum
- noun
- Specialized
:
ciruela moxie
- The moxie plum thrives in cool, northern climates and produces clusters of small white flowers.
Examples
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Many gardeners appreciate the moxie plums for their hardiness.
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We spotted a moxie plum along the hiking trail, nestled among mossy rocks.
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Botanists study the moxie plum for its unique white, fleshy seeds.
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The moxie plum is a unique shrub found in northern climates.
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The moxie plum is known for its beautiful white flowers that bloom in early spring.
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In the garden, the moxie plum stands out with its rough, hairy seeds and evergreen foliage.
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Wildlife often seeks shelter behind the dense growth of the moxie plum in the northern forests.
Synonyms
A low evergreen bush that grows close to the ground with white flowers and rough white seeds
A low bush that spreads on the ground with small white flowers and white berries
Low evergreen shrub that grows close to the ground with small white berries
Surface Forms
Morphology
moxie + plum
This is the lexical name of a particular shrub species and its detailed botanical meaning (a slow-growing, low evergreen with white flowers and fleshy seeds) cannot be derived from the parts. Even if a learner knew 'plum' (a fruit/tree) and 'moxie' (a non-botanical word or brand/slang), those constituents do not transparently signal the specific form and ecology of the plant, so the compound is idiomatic/lexicalized rather than compositional.
Etymology
Moxie plum may come from the word moxie meaning 'brave' or full of spirit and the small white seeds or fruit that look a little like a tiny plum. Picture a tough little shrub holding tiny, plum-like seeds in cold places, and that image explains why the name refers to a hardy, slow-growing shrub.
