Dentaria bulbifera
- noun
- UK
:
Dentaria bulbifera
- The knotted rootstock of Dentaria bulbifera distinguishes it from other bittercress species.
Examples
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The Dentaria bulbifera blooms in woodland areas during spring.
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The Dentaria bulbifera is often found in moist woodlands.
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Botanists were excited to discover a rare specimen of Dentaria bulbifera in the forest.
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Have you ever seen a Dentaria bulbifera in bloom?
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The knotted rootstock of Dentaria bulbifera distinguishes it from other bittercress species.
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Botanists were excited to discover a rare specimen of Dentaria bulbifera in the forest.
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The Dentaria bulbifera blooms in woodland areas during spring.
Synonyms
A European flowering plant with knotted white roots and clusters of pale purple flowers
A small European wild plant with knotted white roots that grows in damp woods
A European plant with white flowers and knotted white roots that grows in moist shade
A small European plant like cress with knotted white roots that grows in damp places
Surface Forms
Morphology
Dentaria + bulbifera
This is a Latin binomial botanical name functioning as a taxonomic label rather than a compositional English phrase; knowing the listed constituents (a genus name and an unknown Latin adjective) does not let a B1 learner derive the meaning 'a European species of bittercress'. The second element 'bulbifera' is not given in the dictionary and requires knowledge of Latin botanical morphology, so the expression is not transparently understandable to average learners.
Etymology
Dentaria bulbifera may come from Latin words Dentaria 'tooth' and bulbifera 'bulb-bearing'. The plant has knotted, tooth-like roots and small bulbs on those roots, so the name describes its roots and explains the English name 'bulbous toothwort'.
