alpine milk vetch

9.9

A small plant with purple flowers that grows every year on high mountain slopes

noun

Specialized

: vicia de montaña

The delicate purple flowers of alpine milk vetch attract many pollinators in the summer.

Examples

Hikers often encounter alpine milk vetch near melting snow patches at high elevations.
Botanists have discovered a new population of alpine milk vetch on the mountain slopes.
The alpine milk vetch blooms beautifully in the summer.
Many hikers admire the alpine milk vetch along the trails.
Botanists have discovered a new population of alpine milk vetch on the mountain slopes.
Hikers often encounter alpine milk vetch near melting snow patches at high elevations.
The delicate purple flowers of alpine milk vetch attract many pollinators in the summer.

Synonyms

Astragalus alpinus

vsalpine milk vetch

Specialized

9.9

A small plant that grows in cold mountain areas of Europe, Asia and North America and is related to peas

is the same plant described at the more specific genus level

Surface Forms

alpine milk vetch singular

alpine milk vetches plural

Morphology

alpine + milk + vetch

The noun is transparently composed: 'alpine' specifies a high‑mountain habitat and 'milk vetch' names a type of vetch (a plant). A B1 learner who knows these constituent meanings can readily infer this refers to a vetch plant found in alpine regions, so the overall sense is predictable from its parts.

Etymology

Alpine milk vetch is a simple name that tells you about the plant: alpine means it grows in high mountains, milk comes from an old use as food for cows that helped them give more milk, and vetch is the common name for small pea-like plants. So the name points to a mountain plant once used to help make 'milk'.