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umbelliferous plant

umbelliferous plant

1 9.8
Plants like parsley and dill with umbrella-shaped flowers and a strong smell
  • noun
  • /ˌʌmbəˈlɪfərəs plænt/
  • Specialized
: planta umbelífera
  • In the hands of his lost ones were the plants he had named for them: Artedia, an umbelliferous plant, and Osbeckia, tall and handsome.

Examples

  • The park is filled with umbelliferous plants, which attract various pollinators with their umbrella-shaped flower clusters.

  • The gardener favored umbelliferous plants like coriander and dill for their aromatic qualities and attractive flowers.

  • Many umbelliferous plants, such as parsley and fennel, are essential in culinary dishes for their distinct flavors.

Synonyms

umbellifer
vsumbelliferous plant
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A plant like parsley or carrot with umbrella-shaped flower clusters

denotes a single member of the family rather than the whole group

Surface Forms

Morphology

umbelliferous + plant

The adjective 'umbelliferous' literally describes bearing umbrella-like (umbel) flower clusters, so combined with 'plant' the phrase denotes a plant that has such flower clusters. This is a straightforward adjective + noun composition where the meaning is directly predictable from the constituents, making it transparent to a learner who knows both words.

Etymology

Umbelliferous plant comes from the small flower group called an umbel, which looks like a tiny 'umbrella' of flowers spreading from one point. That's why 'umbelliferous plant' means a plant with 'umbrella-shaped' flower clusters, like parsley or dill.