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Glite Dictionary
Calochortus albus

Calochortus albus

9.9
A small wild lily with white cup-shaped flowers that grows in southern California
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Calochortus albus
  • Many gardeners in California cultivate Calochortus albus for its elegant white blooms.

Examples

  • The delicate petals of the Calochortus albus shimmered in the morning sun.

  • During spring hikes, we often spot wild Calochortus albus growing on the hillsides.

  • Look at that stunning Calochortus albus over there!

  • The Calochortus albus blooms beautifully in spring.

  • Many gardeners in California cultivate Calochortus albus for its elegant white blooms.

  • During spring hikes, we often spot wild Calochortus albus growing on the hillsides.

  • The delicate petals of the Calochortus albus shimmered in the morning sun.

Synonyms

white globe lily
vsCalochortus albus
  • US
9.8

A plant with branching clusters of white, egg-shaped flowers

is the formal species name for that exact lily
white fairy lantern
vsCalochortus albus
  • US
9.5

A plant with egg-shaped white flowers in open clusters on branched stems

is the formal species name rather than a common phrase

Surface Forms

Calochortus albus singular
Calochortus albi plural

Morphology

Calochortus + albus

This is a Latin binomial composed of the genus name 'Calochortus' and the specific epithet 'albus' (Latin for 'white'), so the meaning is simply a Calochortus that is white or has white flowers. Species names are compositional (noun + descriptive adjective) and this descriptive pattern is predictable and cross-linguistically common, so a learner who knows both constituents can derive the meaning.

Etymology

Calochortus albus comes from old Greek and Latin words: Calochortus means 'beautiful grass' and albus means 'white'. So the name paints a picture of a 'white, beautiful' flower, which fits this California lily with open white blooms.