umbrella plant
- noun
- South African
:
planta paraguas
- Leaves of the umbrella plant fan out in a striking circular display above the stems.
Examples
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The umbrella plant is often used to add a tropical feel to water gardens.
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The umbrella plant thrives in wet conditions.
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She bought an umbrella plant to decorate the corner of her living room.
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Have you seen the umbrella plants in the garden?
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The umbrella plant is often used to add a tropical feel to water gardens.
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She bought an umbrella plant to decorate the corner of her living room.
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Leaves of the umbrella plant fan out in a striking circular display above the stems.
Synonyms
A water plant from Africa with a top group of thin leaves that spread like an umbrella
A water plant from Africa with thin grasslike leaves in an umbrella shape at each stem tip
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a plant with an umbrella-like cluster of leaves' is directly inferable from combining 'umbrella' (a canopy) with 'plant' — the modifier describes the plant's shape. This noun–noun compositional pattern is common and cross-linguistically transparent, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily predict the meaning.
Etymology
Umbrella plant takes its name from the circle of thin, grass-like leaves that fan out at the top of each stem like a tiny umbrella over the water. That clear image is why gardeners call this water plant an 'umbrella plant' today.
