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Glite Dictionary
Tacca leontopetaloides

Tacca leontopetaloides

9.9
A tropical plant grown for its large edible root used to make arrowroot starch
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Tacca leontopetaloides
  • The locals use the root of Tacca leontopetaloides to prepare a type of arrowroot starch.

Examples

  • The Tacca leontopetaloides plant is known for its large edible roots.

  • Tacca leontopetaloides is cultivated in tropical regions for its starchy root.

  • Research has shown that Tacca leontopetaloides can thrive in sandy coastal soils.

  • Farmers in Australia cultivate Tacca leontopetaloides for its nutritious starch.

  • Tacca leontopetaloides is widely grown for its large edible roots that provide Otaheite arrowroot starch.

  • In many islands of Polynesia, Tacca leontopetaloides is a key crop valued for its starchy tuber.

  • The root of Tacca leontopetaloides is often harvested and used to make traditional dishes in the East Indies.

Synonyms

pia
vsTacca leontopetaloides
  • Australian
9.9

A plant with a large edible root used to make arrowroot starch

is identical in meaning but is an alternate name form
Indian arrowroot
vsTacca leontopetaloides
8.8

A tropical plant grown for its large starchy root used for flour

is the same but specifically noted as producing Otaheite arrowroot starch

Surface Forms

Tacca leontopetaloides singular
Tacca leontopetaloideses plural

Morphology

Tacca + leontopetaloides

This is a Latin binomial (a scientific name) rather than a phrase built from ordinary English morphemes; the second element is not a familiar English word and the taxonomic form contains classical roots unfamiliar to B1 learners. Scientific names and proper nouns do not transparently convey the descriptive meaning (perennial herb with edible root yielding arrowroot starch), so a learner who only knows the listed constituents would not be able to derive the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Tacca leontopetaloides may come from old words for 'lion' and 'petal' because its large, showy flower parts look a bit like a lion's mane. So the name helps you remember it is a tropical herb with a big edible root used to make 'arrowroot' starch.