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Glite Dictionary
Madia elegans

Madia elegans

9.9
An annual California wildflower with yellow flowers and red-brown spots near their base
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Madia elegans
  • Madia elegans is known for its striking yellow flowers adorned with red-brown spots, making it a favorite among gardeners.

Examples

  • Madia elegans blooms in midsummer, brightening dry meadows with its distinct yellow flowers.

  • The garden featured several native species, including Madia elegans among the wildflowers.

  • Botanists frequently study Madia elegans for its adaptation to California's climate.

  • The Madia elegans blooms beautifully in the spring.

  • Have you seen a Madia elegans in the garden?

  • In California, Madia elegans thrives in dry meadows, showcasing its vibrant yellow blooms each summer.

  • During a nature walk, we spotted a patch of Madia elegans, brightening the landscape with its bold yellow flowers.

Synonyms

common tarweed
vsMadia elegans
  • US
8.6

A California annual plant with yellow petals marked by red-brown spots near the base

is the formal species label used in scientific contexts
common madia
vsMadia elegans
  • US
9.9

A California plant that lives one year and has yellow flowers with brown spots at the base of the petals

is the formal species label rather than this familiar label

Surface Forms

Madia elegans singular
Madia eleganses plural

Morphology

Madia + elegans

This is a taxonomic binomial composed of the genus name Madia and the specific epithet elegans; a learner who knows 'Madia' denotes a genus of herbs and recognizes 'elegans' as a Latin-derived adjective (cognate with English 'elegant') can infer it refers to a particular species of Madia. However, species names function as proper labels and 'elegans' is not provided in the dictionary here, so the link between the epithet and a predictable meaning is partial rather than fully compositional for a B1 learner.

Etymology

Madia elegans uses the Latin word elegans, which means 'elegant', because its yellow flowers with red-brown spots look neat and graceful. So the name helps you remember it is a pretty wildflower.