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Glite Dictionary
Aspalathus linearis

Aspalathus linearis

9.9
A South African shrub with flat pointed leaves and yellow flowers whose dried leaves make rooibos tea
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Aspalathus linearis
  • The leaves of Aspalathus linearis are harvested to produce the popular herbal drink rooibos tea.

Examples

  • The leaves of Aspalathus linearis are carefully dried and processed to make rich rooibos tea.

  • In South Africa, vast fields of Aspalathus linearis can be seen growing in the Cederberg region.

  • Botanists have long studied Aspalathus linearis for its medicinal properties and unique characteristics.

  • The Aspalathus linearis plant thrives in the sunny climate of South Africa.

  • Have you ever tried Aspalathus linearis tea?

  • In South Africa, many people enjoy a cup of rooibos tea made from Aspalathus linearis leaves.

  • Gardeners often grow Aspalathus linearis for its beautiful yellow flowers and aromatic leaves.

Synonyms

rooibos
vsAspalathus linearis
  • South African
9.4

A South African plant whose dried leaves make a sweet herbal tea

is the formal scientific name rather than the common name

Surface Forms

Aspalathus linearis singular
Aspalathus linearis plural

Morphology

Aspalathus + linearis

This is a scientific binomial composed of the genus name Aspalathus (a type of South African shrub) plus the species epithet linearis (Latin/Latinate adjective meaning 'linear' or 'narrow'), so the overall meaning — a particular Aspalathus with linear features — follows directly from the parts. Binomial names are compositionally interpreted across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents can infer it denotes a specific kind of Aspalathus.

Etymology

Aspalathus linearis may come from old Greek and Latin words: Aspalathus was a name for a small, thorny shrub and linearis means 'long, thin'. That's why the scientific name fits the South African shrub whose narrow leaves are dried to make the herbal tea 'rooibos'.