purple-fringed orchid

9.8

A North American orchid with clusters of purple fringed flowers that grows in wet meadows and marshes

noun
/ˈpɜrpl frɪndʒt ˈɔrkɪd/

: orquídea de fringes púrpuras

We spotted a rare purple-fringed orchid growing near the edge of the marsh.

Examples

Look at that purple-fringed orchid!
She photographed the delicate petals of the purple-fringed orchid during her hike.
The purple-fringed orchid blooms in mid-summer and attracts many butterflies.
The purple-fringed orchid blooms beautifully in spring.
The lesser purple-fringed orchid is known for its beautiful clusters of flowers that grow in moist areas.
During our hike through the wet meadows, we spotted a stunning purple-fringed orchid blooming next to the stream.
The purple-fringed orchid thrives in marshy conditions, making it a rare sight in many gardens.

Synonyms

purple-fringed orchis

vspurple-fringed orchid

9.9

A North American wildflower with clusters of purple, fringed flowers

adds habitat noting it grows in wet meadows and marshes

Habenaria psycodes

vspurple-fringed orchid

Specialized

9.9

A North American orchid that has clusters of fragrant purple flowers with fringed petals

focuses on habitat rather than scent

Surface Forms

purple-fringed orchid singular

purple-fringed orchids plural

Morphology

purple-fringed + orchid

The noun phrase is a straightforward descriptive compound: 'purple-fringed' is transparently built from 'purple' (color) + 'fringed' (having a fringe) and combined with 'orchid' (a flowering plant) yields 'an orchid with purple fringes'. There is no idiomatic or metaphorical shift, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words would readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Purple-fringed orchid is a name that simply describes the plant: the flowers are purple, have thin, fringed edges, and it is an orchid often found in wet meadows and marshes. So, the name means 'a purple orchid with fringed petals'.