Dalmatian iris
- noun
- The Dalmatian iris is prized in gardens for its delicate lilac-blue petals.
Examples
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She planted several Dalmatian irises along the pathway to add a splash of color.
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Botanists have studied the Dalmatian iris to better understand its adaptation to rocky soils.
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Look at that Dalmatian iris!
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The Dalmatian iris blooms in early spring.
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The Dalmatian iris is prized in gardens for its delicate lilac-blue petals.
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She planted several Dalmatian irises along the pathway to add a splash of color.
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The Dalmatian iris blooms in early spring.
Synonyms
A European iris with soft pale blue flowers and a pleasant scent
Surface Forms
Morphology
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'.