rayless chamomile
- noun
- Specialized
:
manzanilla sin rayos
- Rayless chamomile often invades disturbed soils along the Pacific coast.
Examples
-
Gardening guides warn that rayless chamomile can spread quickly if left uncontrolled.
-
The rayless chamomile blooms in late summer.
-
The field contained patches of rayless chamomile mixed with other wildflowers.
-
Have you seen the rayless chamomile in the garden?
-
The bright yellow flowers of rayless chamomile attract various pollinators in the coastal meadows.
-
During my hike, I noticed a patch of rayless chamomile growing among the tall grasses.
-
Many local gardeners prefer to plant rayless chamomile because of its pleasant aroma and low maintenance.
Synonyms
A one-year scented coastal weed with leaves that have stiff points and small yellow flowers
A small wild plant with a pineapple smell that grows in cracks and has yellow flowers
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'rayless' (without radiating/ray florets) modifies 'chamomile' (a plant), so a learner who knows both words can infer it refers to a chamomile lacking ray florets. Although 'rayless' is somewhat specialized botanical vocabulary, the adjective-noun pattern is transparent and predictable.
Etymology
Rayless chamomile gets its name from how the flower looks: it is like a small chamomile but the blooms are rayless, with a yellow center and 'no outer petals'. So, the name describes a plant whose small yellow flower heads do not have the usual white petals.
