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Glite Dictionary
Lagerstroemia indica

Lagerstroemia indica

8.6
A small tree or shrub with bright summer flowers called crape myrtle
  • noun
  • /ˌlɑːɡərˈstroʊmiə ˈɪndɪkə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Lagerstroemia indica
  • Gardeners prize Lagerstroemia indica for its long blooming season and striking colors.

Examples

  • The vibrant blossoms of Lagerstroemia indica make it a popular choice for gardens in the southern states.

  • The Lagerstroemia indica blooms beautifully in the summer.

  • After planting Lagerstroemia indica along the driveway, they enjoyed beautiful flowers every summer.

  • Many gardeners love Lagerstroemia indica for its vibrant flowers.

  • Gardeners prize Lagerstroemia indica for its long blooming season and striking colors.

  • The vibrant blossoms of Lagerstroemia indica make it a popular choice for gardens in the southern states.

  • After planting Lagerstroemia indica along the driveway, they enjoyed beautiful flowers every summer.

Synonyms

crape myrtle
vsLagerstroemia indica
  • US
1 8.8

A small tree or shrub with bright summer flowers and smooth bark

is the scientific species name used in formal contexts
crepe flower
vsLagerstroemia indica
  • US
8.2

A small tree or shrub with wrinkled bright flowers often planted in warm gardens

is the botanical species label focusing on the plant identity

Surface Forms

Lagerstroemia indica singular
Lagerstroemia indicas plural

Morphology

Lagerstroemia + indica

This is a standard Linnaean binomial made from a genus name plus a taxonomic epithet: 'Lagerstroemia' (a botanical genus) + 'indica' (meaning 'from India'). A learner who knows both constituents can transparently infer it denotes a species of the Lagerstroemia genus originating in India (i.e. a particular plant), because binomial naming conventions are regular and cross-linguistically recognizable.

Etymology

The scientific name Lagerstroemia indica is named after a Swedish plant collector, Magnus Lagerström, who collected these plants in eastern India and sent them to Europe. The second word indica means 'from India', so the name shows both the person and the place and helps you remember this crape myrtle comes from India.