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Glite Dictionary
Yucca baccata

Yucca baccata

9.8
A tall desert plant with a woody stem, stiff long leaves, and large white flower clusters
  • noun
  • /ˈjʌkə bɑːˈkɑːtə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : yucca baccata
  • The Yucca baccata blooms with large clusters of white flowers in the desert sun.

Examples

  • The Yucca baccata produces sweet, fleshy fruits that are eaten by both wildlife and indigenous people.

  • Botanists study Yucca baccata for its unique adaptations to arid environments.

  • A cluster of Yucca baccata stands in bloom on the rocky desert hills.

  • The Yucca baccata thrives in arid environments.

  • I saw a beautiful Yucca baccata in the desert.

  • Because of its thick, sword-shaped leaves, the Yucca baccata can survive in dry conditions.

  • Many birds are attracted to the sweet fruits of the Yucca baccata, which grow in the wild.

Surface Forms

Yucca baccata singular
Yucca baccatas plural

Morphology

yucca + baccata

This is a scientific binomial name where 'yucca' is a known plant name but 'baccata' is a Latin epithet (not an English lexical item) and therefore does not yield a clear, compositional meaning for a B1 learner. Species epithets function as arbitrary labels in English usage, so even knowing 'yucca' would not allow a learner to derive the full specific meaning without prior exposure.

Etymology

Yucca baccata gets its name from two simple parts: Yucca, a word borrowed long ago from native people and used in Spanish, and baccata, a Latin word meaning 'with berries'. The name points to this yucca's sweet, banana-like fruits, so it helps you remember it is the yucca that makes fleshy, berry-like fruit.