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Glite Dictionary
Calophyllum inophyllum

Calophyllum inophyllum

9.9
A tropical evergreen tree with glossy leaves and fragrant white flowers that grows by the sea
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Calophyllum inophyllum
  • In southern India, Calophyllum inophyllum is often planted as an ornamental tree for its glossy leaves and fragrant flowers.

Examples

  • Traditional medicine sometimes uses oil extracted from the nuts of Calophyllum inophyllum.

  • The wood of the Calophyllum inophyllum is valued for its durability in boat building.

  • The Calophyllum inophyllum tree is known for its fragrant flowers.

  • Many coastal regions in India feature the Calophyllum inophyllum species.

  • In southern India, Calophyllum inophyllum is often planted as an ornamental tree for its glossy leaves and fragrant flowers.

  • The wood of the Calophyllum inophyllum is valued for its durability in boat building.

  • Many coastal regions in India feature the Calophyllum inophyllum species due to its ability to thrive in sandy soils.

Synonyms

Alexandrian laurel
vsCalophyllum inophyllum
  • Indian
9.9

A tree from southern India and Malaysia with glossy leaves and fragrant white flowers

is the scientific name used for the same tree

Surface Forms

Calophyllum inophyllum singular
Calophyllum inophyllums plural

Morphology

Calophyllum + inophyllum

This is a Latin binomial (scientific) name functioning as a label for a species rather than a compositional English phrase. Even if a learner knows 'Calophyllum' as a tropical tree, the specific epithet 'inophyllum' is not a transparent English word and the full meaning (a particular coastal evergreen with fragrant flowers) cannot be derived from the parts. Scientific names are learned as lexical labels across languages rather than composed from familiar English morphemes, making this opaque to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Calophyllum inophyllum comes from old Greek words: Calophyllum meaning 'beautiful leaf' and inophyllum meaning 'oil leaf'. The tree has shiny leaves and its nuts make a useful oil used in traditional medicine and for building boats, so the name points to both its glossy leaves and oily seeds.