velvet flower
- noun
- Indian
:
flor terciopelo
- Farmers in the region cultivate velvet flower both for its nutritious leaves and its edible seeds.
Examples
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The young leaves of the velvet flower are a popular ingredient in various African dishes.
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Traditionally, the seeds of the velvet flower are ground into flour and used as a cereal.
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The velvet flower thrives in tropical climates.
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I love the taste of velvet flowers in my salads.
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Farmers in the region cultivate velvet flower both for its nutritious leaves and its edible seeds.
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The young leaves of the velvet flower are a popular ingredient in various African dishes.
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Traditionally, the seeds of the velvet flower are ground into flour and used as a cereal.
Synonyms
A tall plant from warm countries with long hanging red flowers whose leaves are eaten and seeds used like grain
A plant grown for its edible leaves and seeds used like grain
A plant with young leaves eaten as vegetables and seeds used as cereal
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound 'velvet flower' transparently signals a plant with velvety or soft flowers, so a B1 learner who knows 'velvet' and 'flower' can infer it is a kind of plant with a particular texture. However, the specific botanical identity and the culinary uses (young leaves as vegetables, seeds as cereal) are lexicalized, culturally specific information that cannot be derived from the parts alone, making the expression only partially predictable.
Etymology
Velvet flower gets its name from the soft, velvet-like feel of its leaves and its showy flower, so people pictured the plant as a kind of velvet and called it 'velvet flower'. That's why the name now refers to a plant whose young leaves are eaten as 'leafy vegetables' and whose seeds can be used as 'cereal'.
