Adam's needle-and-thread
- noun
- /ˈædəmz ˈniːdəl ənd θrɛd/
- US
:
aguja de Adán y hilo
- You can identify Adam's needle-and-thread by its stiff, needle-like leaves that have silky threads along the edges.
Examples
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The garden features several Adam's needle-and-thread plants with striking, spiky leaves.
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Native to dry regions, Adam's needle-and-thread thrives in sandy soils and full sun.
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The sharp leaves of Adam's needle-and-thread are used in traditional weaving by indigenous peoples.
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Look at the beautiful Adam's needle-and-thread flowers!
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Have you ever touched an Adam's needle-and-thread plant?
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In the desert, Adam's needle-and-thread can often be seen with its long, sharp leaves swaying in the wind.
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The landscaper recommended Adam's needle-and-thread for its drought tolerance and unique appearance.
Synonyms
4
9.3
A plant like a spiky bush with long stiff leaves that have thin threadlike edges
A tough garden plant with long stiff leaves that have white threads on the edges
A desert plant with long stiff leaves that have thin threads at the edges
Surface Forms
Morphology
Adam's + needle-and-thread
The element 'needle-and-thread' fairly directly evokes needle-like leaves and thread-like filaments, so a learner who knows 'needle' and 'thread' can infer the plant's morphological features. However, the full sense — that this is a specific yucca species and a conventional common-name (with 'Adam's' as a proper-name modifier) — is not fully predictable from the parts alone, so prior exposure or botanical knowledge is needed.
Etymology
Adam's needle-and-thread likely comes from the plant's look: its long, sharp leaves are like a needle and the thin, hair-like threads along the leaf edges look like thread. So the name gives a simple picture that helps you remember the plant's sharp leaves and stringy threads.