Carlina vulgaris
- noun
- Specialized
- The spiny leaves of Carlina vulgaris can be seen along the edges of many European sand dunes.
Examples
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Due to its preference for dry, chalky soils, Carlina vulgaris thrives on limestone hills.
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Botanists identified several specimens of Carlina vulgaris during the field survey.
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Look at that stunning Carlina vulgaris by the path!
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I found a beautiful Carlina vulgaris in the garden.
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Botanists identified several specimens of Carlina vulgaris during the field survey.
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Due to its preference for dry, chalky soils, Carlina vulgaris thrives on limestone hills.
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The spiny leaves of Carlina vulgaris can be seen along the edges of many European sand dunes.
Synonyms
A spiny wild plant with a yellowish flower head that grows on dry, sandy ground
Surface Forms
Morphology
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.