Cotinus americanus
- noun
- /koʊˈtiːnəs əˈmɛrɪkənəs/
- Specialized
- Many gardeners appreciate the Cotinus americanus for its large, feathery, smoke-like flower plumes.
Examples
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The Cotinus americanus is often referred to as the American smoke tree.
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The Cotinus americanus is often planted for its decorative, smoky-looking flowers in southern gardens.
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Many gardeners appreciate Cotinus americanus for its autumn foliage colors as well as its unique blossoms.
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Wildlife is attracted to the Cotinus americanus when it is in full bloom.
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I planted a Cotinus americanus in my garden last spring.
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The Cotinus americanus tree adds beauty to southern gardens with its unique, decorative flowers.
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Wildlife is attracted to the Cotinus americanus when its smoke-like blossoms are in full bloom.
Synonyms
1
7.5
A small tree or shrub with feathery flowers that look like smoke
1
7.6
A shrub or small tree with feathery flowers that look like puffs of smoke
A small, bushy tree with large feathery flower clusters that look like puffs of smoke
A bushy tree in the southern United States with feathery flowers that look like puffs of smoke
Surface Forms
Morphology
Cotinus + americanus
This is a scientific binomial composed of the genus name 'Cotinus' (a shrub) plus the Latin adjective 'americanus' meaning 'American' or 'from America', so the overall meaning ('American smoke tree' / the American species of Cotinus) is directly derivable from its parts. Binomial taxonomic patterns are compositional and cross-linguistically recognizable, so a learner who knows the constituent meanings would understand this term.
Etymology
Cotinus americanus gets its name from the tree's fluffy, smoky-looking flower clusters that can look like a cloud of smoke; Cotinus points to that 'smoke tree' image and americanus means 'from America'.