starfish flower
- noun
- /ˈstɑrˌfɪʃ ˈflɔːər/
- Specialized
:
flor estrella de mar
- The starfish flower attracted flies with its foul-smelling, star-shaped bloom.
Examples
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Gardeners are often surprised by the size and odor of the starfish flower when it blooms indoors.
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Because of its striking appearance, the starfish flower is a popular plant among succulent collectors.
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The starfish flower blooms in the summer.
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I bought a starfish flower for my garden.
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The starfish flower is known for attracting pollinators with its strong, unpleasant odor.
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Collectors often admire the starfish flower for its unique star-shaped blooms and distinctive appearance.
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When it blooms, the starfish flower releases a foul smell that is both surprising and intriguing.
Synonyms
A leafless plant with thick stems and star-shaped smelly flowers that attract flies
A fleshy plant without leaves that has large star-shaped flowers that smell like rotting meat and attract flies
How Smelly
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound 'starfish flower' is transparently built from 'starfish' (a star-shaped marine animal) + 'flower' (the reproductive part of a plant), so a B1 learner who knows both words can readily infer it refers to a flower that resembles a starfish in shape. While the specific botanical details (succulent genus Stapelia, toothed stems, foul odor) are specialized and not predictable, the core visual/shape meaning is directly derivable and follows common compounding patterns.
Etymology
Starfish flower gets its name from its big, flat bloom that looks like a sea starfish and from the simple word flower. The bloom often gives off a strong 'rotten meat' smell to attract flies, so the name helps you remember the plant by both its star shape and its strange smell.