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Glite Dictionary
Iris xiphioides

Iris xiphioides

9.9
A garden flower that grows from a bulb with large delicate flowers usually blue or violet
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Iris xiphioides
  • Unlike some irises, the Iris xiphioides does not produce yellow flowers.

Examples

  • The Iris xiphioides thrives in well-drained soil with plenty of sunlight.

  • Many gardeners prize the Iris xiphioides for its striking blue and violet blossoms.

  • The Iris xiphioides blooms beautifully in spring.

  • Many gardeners love the Iris xiphioides for its vibrant colors.

  • Many gardeners prize the Iris xiphioides for its striking blue and violet blossoms.

  • The Iris xiphioides thrives in well-drained soil with plenty of sunlight.

  • The Iris xiphioides blooms beautifully in spring.

Synonyms

English iris
vsIris xiphioides
6.7

A plant that grows from a bulb with large delicate flowers in many colors except yellow

means the same but uses the scientific name form

How Blue

Iris xiphioides
  • Specialized
9.9
Iris pallida
  • Specialized
8.2
violet
2 1.6

Surface Forms

Iris xiphioides singular
Iris xiphioides plural

Morphology

iris + xiphioides

This is a Latin binomial name where the second element 'xiphioides' is not an English word and does not convey a predictable meaning to a B1 learner; knowing 'iris' (a flower) only signals the genus, not the specific traits. Taxonomic epithets are conventionally arbitrary or morphological-linguistic and are therefore not compositionally interpretable by learners without specialized botanical knowledge.

Etymology

Iris xiphioides may come from Greek words: Iris was the 'rainbow' goddess, so the name shows the plant's colorful flowers, and xiphioides means 'sword-like', about its long, narrow leaves. That's why the name helps you picture a bright iris with sword-shaped leaves.