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Glite Dictionary
Fritillaria meleagris

Fritillaria meleagris

9.9
A small European lily with bell-shaped purple or maroon checkered flowers
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : fritillaria meleagris
  • The Fritillaria meleagris is prized by gardeners for its distinctive checkered flowers.

Examples

  • In spring, the meadow blooms with Fritillaria meleagris, adding a touch of wild beauty.

  • Many gardeners love the Fritillaria meleagris for its unique flowers.

  • Botanists admire Fritillaria meleagris for its unusual coloration and historical associations.

  • The Fritillaria meleagris blooms beautifully in spring.

  • Gardeners often choose Fritillaria meleagris for its striking purple, checkered flowers that enhance any garden.

  • During the spring, Fritillaria meleagris blooms in meadows, showcasing its beautiful bell-shaped flowers.

  • The unique pattern of the Fritillaria meleagris makes it a favorite among floral enthusiasts.

Synonyms

fritillary
vsFritillaria meleagris
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A small bulb plant with nodding bell-shaped flowers, often with checkered petals

is the specific species with checkered purple or maroon bell flowers
leper lily
vsFritillaria meleagris
  • UK
9.9

A plant with nodding bell-shaped flowers that are often purple and checkered

identifies the species without mentioning historical name origin
snake's head fritillary
vsFritillaria meleagris
9.9

A spring bulb flower with hanging checkered purple or maroon petals

is cultivated commonly but without stressing wide cultivation
guinea-hen flower
vsFritillaria meleagris
9.8

A garden plant with hanging bell-shaped flowers that are purple and white in a checkered pattern

is the botanical species name rather than a common name
checkered daffodil
vsFritillaria meleagris
  • US
9.9

A garden flower with hanging bell-shaped petals patterned with purple checks

is the species name without stressing the pale background pattern
checkered lily
vsFritillaria meleagris
  • US
9.9

A plant with bell-shaped flowers that hang down and show a checkered pattern

is the specific species rather than the wider genus category

Surface Forms

Fritillaria meleagris singular
Fritillaria meleagris plural

Morphology

Fritillaria + meleagris

This is a Latin binomial: knowing 'Fritillaria' (a genus of flowering plants) lets a learner infer that the phrase names a species of that plant, so they can grasp the general category (a plant). However 'meleagris' is not an English lexical item with an accessible meaning for a B1 learner, and the specific traits (checkered, bell-shaped flowers, Eurasian distribution) are not derivable from the constituents. Because the name signals category but not the detailed meaning, it is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Fritillaria meleagris may come from old words that describe the flower's look. The first part, fritillaria, comes from 'fritillus' meaning 'dice-box' because the petals have a checkered pattern, and meleagris links to 'guineafowl' because the spots look like a bird's feathers, so the name helps you remember its checkered, bell-shaped flower.