prairie bird's-foot trefoil
- noun
- /ˈprɛəri ˈbɜrdzˌfʊt ˈtrɛfɔɪl/
- US
- Gardeners value prairie bird's-foot trefoil for its vibrant rose-colored flowers and adaptability.
Examples
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The native prairie grasses were interspersed with prairie bird's-foot trefoil in full bloom.
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The prairie bird's-foot trefoil blooms in early summer.
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During our hike, we spotted patches of prairie bird's-foot trefoil along the trail.
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Many prairie bird's-foot trefoils can be found in this region.
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While exploring the nature reserve, we admired the patches of prairie bird's-foot trefoil that were bursting with color.
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The prairie bird's-foot trefoil is often seen thriving alongside other wildflowers in North American grasslands.
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In early summer, the prairie bird's-foot trefoil showcases beautiful red flowers that attract a variety of pollinators.
Synonyms
An annual North American plant with red or pink flowers that grows in prairies
A North American annual plant with pink flowers that grows on prairies
A North American plant that lives one year with red or pink flowers in the pea family
Surface Forms
Morphology
prairie + bird's-foot + trefoil
The name is transparently compositional: 'prairie' indicates habitat, 'bird's-foot' is a descriptive compound suggesting the shape of parts (pods/leaflets), and 'trefoil' denotes a clover/pea-family plant. Although it refers to a particular species, a learner who knows the constituents can infer it is a clover-like plant with a bird's-foot shape growing on prairies.
Etymology
Prairie bird's-foot trefoil is a plant name that tells you what it is and where it grows. The part bird's-foot comes from seed pods that look like a bird's 'toes', and trefoil means 'three leaves', so the name describes a prairie plant with three small leaves and toe-like pods.