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Glite Dictionary
Onoclea sensibilis

Onoclea sensibilis

9.9
A fern with divided leaves that fold slightly when touched
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Onoclea sensibilis
  • When touched, the fronds of Onoclea sensibilis tend to fold slightly, which inspired its common name, sensitive fern.

Examples

  • The Onoclea sensibilis thrives in moist woodlands throughout eastern North America.

  • Gardeners often plant Onoclea sensibilis near ponds for its decorative, lush foliage.

  • The Onoclea sensibilis is often found in wetland areas.

  • I saw an Onoclea sensibilis growing by the riverbank.

  • Gardeners often plant Onoclea sensibilis near ponds for its decorative, lush foliage.

  • The Onoclea sensibilis thrives in moist woodlands throughout eastern North America.

  • When touched, the fronds of Onoclea sensibilis tend to fold slightly.

Synonyms

sensitive fern
vsOnoclea sensibilis
  • US
8.8

A plant with leaves that fold slightly when touched and grows in wet woods

is the formal scientific species name for the same fern

Surface Forms

Onoclea sensibilis singular
Onoclea sensibilises plural

Morphology

Onoclea + sensibilis

This is a Latin binomial (genus + species) used as a taxonomic proper name; its referent (a particular fern species) is not compositionally derived from ordinary English word meanings. The constituents are a genus label and a Latin epithet (not lexical English items a B1 learner would reliably interpret), so knowing the parts would not enable a learner to infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Onoclea sensibilis is named for a simple image: its fronds fold a little when you touch them. The Latin word sensibilis means 'sensitive', so the name and the common name 'sensitive fern' point to the fern that reacts to touch.