Turk's cap-lily
- noun
- /tɜrks kæp ˈlɪli/
- US
:
lirio de Turk's cap
- We spotted a rare Turk's cap-lily during our hike in the Appalachian Mountains.
Examples
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The garden was enhanced by the striking blooms of the Turk's cap-lily beside the pond.
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Horticulturists prize the Turk's cap-lily for its dramatic, downward-facing flowers and spotted petals.
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The Turk's cap-lily blooms beautifully in the summer.
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I saw a stunning Turk's cap-lily in the garden.
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The vibrant Turk's cap-lily blooms in the garden, displaying its striking orange petals with maroon spots.
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During the hike, we admired the Turk's cap-lily, known for its unique backward-curving petals and bright colors.
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In spring, the Turk's cap-lily adds a splash of color to the meadows with its beautiful red flowers.
Synonyms
A tall lily from the eastern United States with orange or red flowers that have dark spots
A lily with petals that bend backward and bright, bell-shaped flowers
Surface Forms
Morphology
Turk's + cap-lily
The headword contains the transparent noun 'lily', so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will recognise it as a type of flower; the modifier 'Turk's cap' is figurative and suggests a cap- or turban-like shape but does not convey the precise botanical features (color, spots, reflexed petals). Because the overall category is clear but the specific sense relies on a cultural/figurative image and botanical knowledge, this is only partially predictable from the parts.
Etymology
Turk's cap-lily gets its name from the flower's shape: the petals bend back so the bloom looks like a small Turk's cap or 'turban' on the head, and lily shows it is a lily. That's why the name describes a lily with flowers that face down and have backward-curving, spotted petals.
