Calamagrostis acutiflora

9.9

A tall grass that lives for many years and is grown in gardens

noun

Specialized

: Calamagrostis acutiflora

Many landscapers plant Calamagrostis acutiflora to create dramatic vertical accents in gardens.

Examples

The tall plumes of Calamagrostis acutiflora appear in mid-summer and last into winter.
Several varieties of Calamagrostis acutiflora are popular for their resilience and graceful movement in the wind.
The Calamagrostis acutiflora adds beauty to any garden.
Many gardeners prefer Calamagrostis acutiflora for its tall, graceful appearance.
Many landscapers plant Calamagrostis acutiflora to create dramatic vertical accents in gardens.
The tall plumes of Calamagrostis acutiflora appear in mid-summer and last into winter.
Many gardeners prefer Calamagrostis acutiflora for its tall, graceful appearance.

Synonyms

feather reed grass

vsCalamagrostis acutiflora

7.6

A tall garden grass with feathery flower spikes used for decoration

is a specific species native to Europe and Asia rather than the general genus

Surface Forms

Calamagrostis acutiflora singular

Calamagrostis acutifloras plural

Morphology

Calamagrostis + acutiflora

The binomial includes a genus name that identifies it as a type of grass, so a learner who knows 'Calamagrostis' as a grass could partially infer the referent is a grass species. However, the specific epithet 'acutiflora' is Latin and not transparently meaningful to an average B1 learner, and scientific Latin naming conventions are not standard English composition, so the full, specific meaning is not predictable without prior exposure or specialist knowledge.

Etymology

Calamagrostis acutiflora may come from old Greek and Latin words: Calamagrostis mixes words for 'reed' and 'grass', and acutiflora means 'sharp flower' because the flowers are thin and pointed. So the name fits this tall, reed-like grass gardeners use to make strong vertical shapes in gardens.