Adenium obesum

9.9

A small South African shrub with a thick stem that stores water and bright pink or white flowers

noun

Specialized

: Adenium obesum

The Adenium obesum in her garden attracts attention when it blooms with vibrant pink flowers.

Examples

Bonsai enthusiasts often cultivate Adenium obesum for its striking, swollen trunk and beautiful blossoms.
The Adenium obesum is often called the desert rose.
After the rainy season, the Adenium obesum produces abundant flowers even though its branches are bare of leaves.
Many gardeners love the Adenium obesum for its vibrant flowers.
The Adenium obesum in her garden attracts attention when it blooms with vibrant pink flowers.
Bonsai enthusiasts often cultivate Adenium obesum for its striking, swollen trunk and beautiful blossoms.
After the rainy season, the Adenium obesum produces abundant flowers even though its branches are bare of leaves.

Synonyms

desert rose

vsAdenium obesum

1 7.7

A small plant with a thick swollen stem and bright pink or white flowers grown in warm places

is the formal scientific name used instead of the common name

Surface Forms

Adenium obesum singular

Morphology

Adenium + obesum

This is a taxonomic Latin binomial combining the genus name 'Adenium' with a species epithet; a learner who knows 'Adenium' can infer the phrase refers to a particular type/species of that shrub. However, the specific botanical traits and the precise sense of 'obesum' (not given here) are not derivable from everyday English knowledge, so the meaning is only partially predictable.

Etymology

Adenium obesum may come from old words that describe its look: Adenium comes from a word for 'gland', meaning a small bump, and obesum is Latin for 'fat' or 'plump', so the name paints a picture of a fat, water-filled stem with bright flowers. That's why the name fits this shrub with a swollen trunk and showy blooms.