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Glite Dictionary
Styrax obassia

Styrax obassia

9.9
A small tree from Japan that loses its leaves and has fragrant white flowers
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Styrax obassia
  • Botanists are studying the unique floral scent of Styrax obassia for potential uses in perfumery.

Examples

  • Many Japanese parks plant Styrax obassia for its attractive flowers and shade.

  • The garden features a beautiful Styrax obassia in full bloom near the pond.

  • The Styrax obassia blooms beautifully in the spring.

  • Many gardeners love Styrax obassia for its fragrant flowers.

  • Many Japanese parks plant Styrax obassia for its attractive flowers and shade.

  • The garden features a beautiful Styrax obassia in full bloom near the pond.

  • Many gardeners love Styrax obassia for its fragrant flowers.

Synonyms

snowbell
vsStyrax obassia
9.8

A small tree from Japan with bell-shaped white flowers

highlights fragrant white flowers and broad leaves rather than flower shape

Surface Forms

Styrax obassia singular
Styrax obassias plural

Morphology

styrax + obassia

This is a Latin binomial: if a learner knows 'styrax' as a type of tree they can infer the phrase refers to a Styrax tree (so the general category is derivable), but 'obassia' is a non-lexical species epithet with no independent English meaning. The specific descriptive information (small, deciduous, native to Japan, fragrant flowers) is not predictable from the parts, so the expression is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Styrax obassia The name Styrax may come from an old word for a 'fragrant resin' used in perfume, so Styrax can remind you of the tree's sweet-smelling white flowers. The second part, obassia, may come from a place in Japan, which helps explain why this small tree is native to Japan.