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Dalmatian iris

Dalmatian iris

8.6
A flowering plant with pale purple flowers from Dalmatia
  • noun
translation icon : iris de Dalmacia
  • The Dalmatian iris is prized in gardens for its delicate lilac-blue petals.

Examples

  • She planted several Dalmatian irises along the pathway to add a splash of color.

  • Botanists have studied the Dalmatian iris to better understand its adaptation to rocky soils.

  • Look at that Dalmatian iris!

  • The Dalmatian iris blooms in early spring.

  • The Dalmatian iris is prized in gardens for its delicate lilac-blue petals.

  • She planted several Dalmatian irises along the pathway to add a splash of color.

  • The Dalmatian iris blooms in early spring.

Synonyms

Iris pallida
vsDalmatian iris
  • Specialized
8.2

A European iris with soft pale blue flowers and a pleasant scent

is native to the Dalmatia region rather than a broad European range

Surface Forms

Morphology

Dalmatian + iris

The meaning 'an iris from Dalmatia' is directly and compositionally derived from 'Dalmatian' (from Dalmatia) + 'iris' (the flower). This place-adjective + noun pattern is literal and cross-linguistically transparent, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Dalmatian iris likely gets its name from the Dalmatia region on the Adriatic coast, where this iris grows on rocky hills and shows soft lilac-blue petals. So, the name tells you it is 'an iris from Dalmatia'.