Torrey tree
- noun
- Specialized
:
árbol de Torrey
- The leaves of the Torrey tree release an unpleasant odor when crushed.
Examples
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The Torrey tree is found only in a few locations in northern Florida.
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Botanists are working to conserve the endangered Torrey tree population.
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The Torrey tree is unique to northern Florida.
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Many people admire the Torrey trees for their beauty.
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The leaves of the Torrey tree emit a strong, unpleasant smell when crushed.
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In northern Florida, the Torrey tree thrives in specific wetland areas.
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Conservationists are dedicated to protecting the rare Torrey tree from extinction.
Synonyms
A rare small evergreen tree from northern Florida with glossy leaves that smell bad when crushed
A small evergreen tree with glossy leaves that smell bad when crushed
A small evergreen shrub with shiny leaves that smell bad when crushed
Surface Forms
Morphology
Torrey + tree
The phrase combines a proper name 'Torrey' with the noun 'tree', so learners who know the constituents will infer it denotes a kind or species of tree named 'Torrey' (an eponymous naming pattern common cross-linguistically). However, the specific properties given in the definition (rare, small evergreen native to northern Florida with a fetid-smelling leaf when crushed) are not predictable from the parts, so the meaning is only partially transparent.
Etymology
Torrey tree may get its name from the plant scientist John Torrey, because people often 'name' a tree after the person who first studied it. The picture to remember is a scientist finding a small, rare evergreen with shiny leaves that give an unpleasant smell when crushed, so today Torrey tree means that specific rare tree from northern Florida.
