Solidago spathulata

9.9

A wild plant from western North America with long narrow groups of small yellow flowers

noun

Specialized

: Solidago spathulata

Hikers often spot Solidago spathulata growing in open woodlands and sandy soils.

Examples

The Solidago spathulata blooms in late summer along the Pacific coast.
Botanists identified the plant as Solidago spathulata due to its unique yellow flower clusters.
The Solidago spathulata blooms in late summer.
Many gardeners appreciate Solidago spathulata for its beauty.
In September, Solidago spathulata showcases vibrant yellow flowers, attracting many butterflies.
The Solidago spathulata thrives in areas with poor soil, making it a popular choice for gardeners in dry regions.
You can find Solidago spathulata blooming abundantly in the meadows of western North America during late summer.

Synonyms

narrow goldenrod

vsSolidago spathulata

Specialized

8.2

A plant from western North America with long narrow clusters of small yellow flowers

is identical in meaning but uses the formal scientific name

Surface Forms

Solidago spathulata singular

Solidago spathulatas plural

Morphology

Solidago + spathulata

This is a Latin binomial (scientific) name: 'Solidago' is a genus proper name and 'spathulata' is a Latin species epithet not listed as an English lexical item, so the parts are not ordinary English words with compositional meaning. Even if a learner recognized it as a plant name, they could not derive the specific sense 'a species of goldenrod with long narrow clusters of small yellow flowers' from the constituents, so it is not transparent to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Solidago spathulata is a plant name that gives a simple picture of the plant: Solidago means 'goldenrod' and spathulata means 'spoon-shaped'. That's why the name points to its narrow, spoon-like leaves and long clusters of small yellow flowers, so the name helps you picture and remember this species.