South American staghorn
- noun
:
cuerno de alce sudamericano
- The South American staghorn is prized by collectors for its unusual frond shape.
Examples
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Growing a South American staghorn requires mimicking its native humid conditions.
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Botanists discovered a new habitat for the South American staghorn deep in the Bolivian rainforest.
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The South American staghorn thrives in humid environments.
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Many gardeners love the South American staghorn for its unique appearance.
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Many gardeners appreciate the South American staghorn for its striking and unique fronds.
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The South American staghorn fern is often found hanging from trees in the rainforests of Bolivia.
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To successfully cultivate a South American staghorn, ensure it receives plenty of indirect sunlight and moisture.
Synonyms
A fern with leaves like deer antlers from Peru and Bolivia
Surface Forms
Morphology
South + American + staghorn
The phrase combines the geographic modifier 'South American' with the noun 'staghorn' to denote a staghorn (fern) originating from South America; this meaning is directly derivable from the constituents. The adjective+noun composition is a standard, cross-linguistic pattern, so a B1 learner who knows the component words would understand the MWE.
Etymology
South American staghorn is a plant name that tells you two things. The word staghorn describes the long, branching fronds that look like a deer's antlers, and South American shows it comes from Peru and Bolivia. So the name means 'a species of staghorn fern native to South America'.
