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Carlina vulgaris

Carlina vulgaris

9.9
A spiny wildflower like a thistle with yellow flower heads that grows in dry sandy soil
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Carlina vulgaris
  • The spiny leaves of Carlina vulgaris can be seen along the edges of many European sand dunes.

Examples

  • Due to its preference for dry, chalky soils, Carlina vulgaris thrives on limestone hills.

  • Botanists identified several specimens of Carlina vulgaris during the field survey.

  • Look at that stunning Carlina vulgaris by the path!

  • I found a beautiful Carlina vulgaris in the garden.

  • Botanists identified several specimens of Carlina vulgaris during the field survey.

  • Due to its preference for dry, chalky soils, Carlina vulgaris thrives on limestone hills.

  • The spiny leaves of Carlina vulgaris can be seen along the edges of many European sand dunes.

Synonyms

common carline thistle
vsCarlina vulgaris
  • UK
8.4

A spiny wild plant with a yellowish flower head that grows on dry, sandy ground

is the same species described in a formal species account

Surface Forms

Morphology

Carlina + vulgaris

The binomial name is compositional: 'Carlina' identifies the genus and the Latin epithet 'vulgaris' means 'common' or 'widespread', so together they denote a common/widespread species of Carlina. Binomial nomenclature is a standard, cross-linguistic convention, so a learner who knows both constituents can infer the general referent (a common Carlina thistle) even if specific botanical details are not supplied.

Etymology

Carlina vulgaris is a Latin plant name that labels a kind of thistle. The second part, vulgaris, means 'common', and Carlina was an old name for the carline thistle, so the full name paints the picture of the 'common carline thistle' you find on dry, sandy hills.