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Glite Dictionary
Prunus mexicana

Prunus mexicana

9.9
A small tree from the southwestern United States with large leaves and purplish-red fruit
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : ciruelo mexicano
  • Gardeners plant Prunus mexicana for both its edible fruit and ornamental value.

Examples

  • The Prunus mexicana produces attractive purplish-red fruit in late summer.

  • The large leaves of Prunus mexicana provide a striking appearance in landscapes.

  • The Prunus mexicana tree produces beautiful fruit.

  • Have you seen a Prunus mexicana in bloom?

  • Gardeners plant Prunus mexicana for both its edible fruit and ornamental value.

  • The Prunus mexicana produces attractive purplish-red fruit in late summer.

  • The large leaves of Prunus mexicana provide a striking appearance in landscapes.

Synonyms

big-tree plum
vsPrunus mexicana
  • Specialized
9.6

A small tree with large leaves and purplish-red fruit often planted in gardens

means the same tree but uses a different common name

Surface Forms

Prunus mexicana singular
Prunus mexicana plural

Morphology

Prunus + mexicana

This is a Latin binomial composed of the genus name 'Prunus' and the specific epithet 'mexicana'; a learner who knows 'Prunus' (a genus of fruit trees) and recognizes 'mexicana' as a geographic adjective meaning 'from Mexico' can infer it denotes a Prunus species from Mexico. Taxonomic naming is compositional and cross-linguistically regular, so the referent (a type of Prunus tree) is predictable rather than idiomatic.

Etymology

Prunus mexicana is a scientific name that gives a simple picture: Prunus means 'plum' or 'plum tree' and mexicana means 'from Mexico', because the plant was first linked to that area. So the name helps you remember it is a plum-like small tree with purplish-red fruit.