Linnaea borealis
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9.9
- noun
- /lɪˈneɪə bɔˈriəlɪs/
- Specialized
- The delicate pink flowers of the Linnaea borealis are a distinctive sight in Arctic woodlands.
Examples
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She photographed a cluster of Linnaea borealis growing along the mossy forest path.
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The Linnaea borealis thrives in cool, shaded areas.
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Botanists often search for Linnaea borealis during their summer field studies in northern forests.
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Have you seen the beautiful Linnaea borealis in bloom?
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Botanists often search for Linnaea borealis during their summer field studies in northern forests.
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She photographed a cluster of Linnaea borealis growing along the mossy forest path.
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The delicate pink flowers of the Linnaea borealis are a distinctive sight in Arctic woodlands.
Synonyms
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9.9
A small low evergreen plant with pink scented flowers in pairs
Surface Forms
Morphology
Linnaea + borealis
This is a Latin binomial: 'Linnaea' names a plant genus and 'borealis' is a Latin/derived form meaning 'northern', so a learner who knows both constituents could deduce it refers to a northern Linnaea plant. However the detailed sense (a creeping evergreen subshrub with paired bell-shaped pink flowers, i.e. 'twinflower') and the fact that it is a specific species name are not derivable from the parts alone, and scientific names function as proper nouns, so the meaning is only partially transparent.
Etymology
Linnaea borealis was named after the scientist Carl Linnaeus and the Latin word borealis, which means 'northern'. The plant usually has two small bell-shaped flowers together, so imagining Linnaeus's little 'twin' bells in the northern woods explains the common name 'twinflower' and helps you remember the scientific name.