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Glite Dictionary
Penstemon dolius

Penstemon dolius

9.9
A low plant with light blue and violet flowers in small clusters near the ends of its stems
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Penstemon dolius
  • The wildflowers included Penstemon dolius, adding a splash of violet to the desert landscape.

Examples

  • Hikers in Utah stopped to admire the clusters of Penstemon dolius along the trail.

  • The Penstemon dolius blooms beautifully in spring.

  • Botanists documented several mature Penstemon dolius plants during their spring survey.

  • I saw a stunning Penstemon dolius in the garden.

  • Hikers in Utah stopped to admire the clusters of Penstemon dolius along the trail.

  • Botanists documented several mature Penstemon dolius plants during their spring survey.

  • The wildflowers included Penstemon dolius, adding a splash of violet to the desert landscape.

Synonyms

Jones' penstemon
vsPenstemon dolius
  • US
9.9

A low plant from the western US with small blue-violet flowers in short groups at stem ends

is native specifically to Nevada and Utah rather than across the whole west

Surface Forms

Penstemon dolius singular
Penstemon doliuses plural

Morphology

Penstemon + dolius

The form is a taxonomic binomial: knowing 'Penstemon' (a genus of plants) lets a learner infer this is a type or species of Penstemon, so that part is transparent. However, the species epithet 'dolius' is not an English lexical item and does not transparently convey the plant's descriptive properties or range, so the full meaning is only partially predictable.

Etymology

Penstemon dolius starts with Penstemon, from Greek for 'five stamens', the five little parts inside the flower. The second word dolius may come from a Latin word for 'barrel', a simple picture for the short, rounded clusters of violet and blue blooms, so the name helps you remember this low-growing plant.