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Glite Dictionary
rein orchid

rein orchid

9.9
A wildflower with a lower petal shaped like a kidney
  • noun
  • /reɪn ˈɔrkɪd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : orquídea de rienda
  • The rein orchid is known for its delicate greenish-white flowers and sweet fragrance.

Examples

  • We spotted a rare rein orchid blooming near the creek during our hike.

  • Several species of rein orchid can be found throughout North America.

  • The rein orchid blooms in late spring.

  • Look! A rein orchid is blooming!

  • Several species of rein orchid can be found throughout North America.

  • The rein orchid is known for its delicate greenish-white flowers and sweet fragrance.

  • We spotted a rare rein orchid blooming near the creek during our hike.

Synonyms

rein orchis
vsrein orchid
  • Specialized
9.9

A wildflower from North America with a kidney-shaped lower part of the flower

is narrower, naming species in one genus instead of the whole family

Surface Forms

rein orchid singular
rein orchids plural

Morphology

rein + orchid

This is a taxonomic plant name where the element 'rein' has no clear lexical meaning here (dictionary entry not found) and 'orchid' only supplies the broad category. The specific diagnostic meaning (a Platanthera species with a kidney-shaped lip) cannot be derived from the constituent words, so a B1 learner would not be able to infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Rein orchid may come from an old word rein meaning 'kidney', because the flower has a small, kidney-shaped 'lip', the lower part of the flower. So the name points to that rounded lower petal.