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Glite Dictionary
poison bush

poison bush

8.9
A plant from Australia with leaves and other parts that can make farm animals sick
  • noun
  • Australian
: arbusto venenoso
  • Many farmers had to fence their cattle away from the poison bush to prevent fatal poisoning.

Examples

  • The bright flowers of the poison bush belie the danger hidden in its leaves.

  • Scientists study the toxins in poison bush to find safe ways to manage grazing land.

  • The poison bush can harm livestock if ingested.

  • Farmers should identify poison bushes on their land.

  • Many farmers must keep their livestock away from the poison bush because it can cause serious health issues if eaten.

  • To protect their cattle, ranchers often mark the areas where poison bush grows, ensuring that they do not graze there.

  • The poison bush is known for its toxic leaves, which can be harmful to animals if consumed.

Synonyms

poison pea
vspoison bush
  • Australian
1 9.9

An Australian evergreen shrub with bright yellow to red flowers that is poisonous to farm animals

refers broadly to any poisonous plant rather than specific species
Gastrolobium
vspoison bush
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of Australian evergreen shrubs that are poisonous to farm animals

is the common nontechnical name used instead of the scientific term

How Toxic

poison bush
  • Australian
8.9

Surface Forms

poison bush singular
poison bushes plural

Morphology

poison + bush

The meaning 'a plant whose parts are poisonous' is straightforwardly derivable from 'poison' (a harmful substance) modifying 'bush' (a shrub/plant). This noun–noun composition follows normal English compounding patterns and is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily understand it.

Etymology

Poison bush names a wild plant whose leaves contain poison, and bush means a wild plant. Farmers fenced their animals away from these plants, so the name now means 'a plant harmful to farm animals'.