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Cordia alliodora

Cordia alliodora

9.9
A large tropical tree with creamy white flowers and useful wood
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Cordia alliodora
  • The wood of the Cordia alliodora is highly valued for furniture making.

Examples

  • The creamy white flowers of the Cordia alliodora attract many pollinators during the blooming season.

  • The Cordia alliodora tree can grow up to 30 meters tall.

  • In tropical regions, Cordia alliodora is often planted along roadsides for shade and decoration.

  • Many gardeners appreciate the beauty of Cordia alliodora flowers.

  • The creamy white flowers of the Cordia alliodora attract many pollinators during the blooming season.

  • The wood of the Cordia alliodora is highly valued for furniture making.

  • In tropical regions, Cordia alliodora is often planted along roadsides for shade and decoration.

Synonyms

cypre
vsCordia alliodora
  • US
9.9

A large tropical American tree with many creamy white flowers and useful wood

uses a more formal timber term instead of the common wood word
salmwood
vsCordia alliodora
  • US
9.9

A large tropical American tree with many creamy white flowers and useful wood

focuses on being grown for those flowers and valuable timber
Equador laurel
vsCordia alliodora
9.9

A large tropical tree with many creamy white flowers and hard wood used for furniture

refers to active cultivation for abundant flowers and timber
Spanish elm
vsCordia alliodora
  • US
9.9

A large tropical American tree with strong, durable wood and creamy white flowers

speaks more generally of value without stressing wood durability

Surface Forms

Morphology

Cordia + alliodora

This is a Latin binomial species name: the meaning is a taxonomic label rather than a compositional phrase. 'Cordia' is a genus name and 'alliodora' is an unfamiliar epithet (not a normal English word), so a B1 learner who knows the parts would not be able to derive the definition 'a large tropical American tree' from them. Such scientific names are language-specific labels and thus unpredictable for general learners.

Etymology

Cordia alliodora gets its name from the plant group Cordia and the Latin word alliodora, which comes from old words meaning 'garlic' and 'smell'. So the name gives a clear image: a large tropical tree whose wood or crushed leaves can give a faint 'garlic' scent, which helps you remember the tree and its timber.