pitcher sage
- noun
- /ˈpɪtʃər seɪdʒ/
- Specialized
:
salvia espatulada
- The woolly stems and large white flowers of pitcher sage make it a standout plant in California's natural landscape.
Examples
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The woolly leaves of the pitcher sage distinguish it from other sages.
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The pitcher sage brightened the garden with its beautiful white blooms.
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Botanists often study native plants like pitcher sage in California chaparral habitats.
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The pitcher sage blooms beautifully in the spring.
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I found some pitcher sages in the garden.
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In the sunny garden, pitcher sage flourished, showcasing its characteristic white blooms.
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During my hike, I was excited to spot the striking pitcher sage growing alongside the trail.
Synonyms
A plant from California that lives for many years with woolly stems and large white flowers called pitcher sage
A plant from California with fuzzy stems and leaves and large white flowers
A California wild sage with fragrant leaves and bright pink flowers
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is compositionally a type of 'sage', so a B1 learner who knows 'pitcher' and 'sage' can infer it denotes a plant related to sage (i.e., a kind of sage). However, the precise botanical sense of 'pitcher' here is specialized and the specific species/features (woolly stems, large white flowers) are not predictable from the constituents, so the relation is only partly transparent.
Etymology
One popular idea is that pitcher sage was named because its big, showy flowers and parts make a cup like a small pitcher, where hummingbirds and bees can reach nectar, and sage tells us it is an herb. So the name points to a woolly-stemmed plant with large, pitcher-like blooms.
