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Glite Dictionary
Acanthus mollis

Acanthus mollis

9.6
A garden plant with large shiny leaves and tall white flowers with purple lines
  • noun
  • /əˈkænθəs ˈmɒlɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Acanthus mollis
  • The lush foliage of Acanthus mollis adds dramatic impact to garden borders.

Examples

  • Many classical stone carvings were inspired by the leaves of Acanthus mollis.

  • Gardeners prize Acanthus mollis for its tall spikes of showy, veined flowers.

  • The garden features beautiful Acanthus mollis plants.

  • Have you seen the Acanthus mollis in bloom?

  • Gardeners prize Acanthus mollis for its tall spikes of showy, veined flowers.

  • Many classical stone carvings were inspired by the leaves of Acanthus mollis.

  • The lush foliage of Acanthus mollis adds dramatic impact to garden borders.

Synonyms

bear's breech
vsAcanthus mollis
9.9

A garden plant with large leaves with deep cuts and tall pale flower spikes

focuses on glossy large leaves and general ornamental cultivation

Surface Forms

Acanthus mollis singular
Acanthus mollises plural

Morphology

acanthus + mollis

This is a Latin binomial: 'Acanthus' names the genus and 'mollis' is a Latin adjective meaning "soft," so a learner who knows both constituents could infer it denotes a particular (soft-featured) species of acanthus. However, the detailed botanical meaning (perennial, glossy leaves, ornamental use) is not fully predictable from those parts alone, and most B1 learners will not recognise Latin adjectival forms, making the composition only partially transparent.

Etymology

Acanthus mollis: the name comes from old words — Acanthus from a Greek word for 'thorn' and mollis from Latin for 'soft'. This creates a simple picture: the plant has tall, sharp flower spikes but large, soft leaves, so the name helps you remember this 'soft thorn' garden plant.