bristly sarsaparilla
- noun
- US
:
sarsaparilla espinosa
- Traditional remedies sometimes use the bark of bristly sarsaparilla for its medicinal properties.
Examples
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The bristly sarsaparilla is often found growing in hardwood forests throughout the region.
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In autumn, the bristly sarsaparilla produces clusters of dark, almost black berries.
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I found some bristly sarsaparilla growing in my backyard.
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The bristly sarsaparilla plant is known for its medicinal properties.
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The bristly sarsaparilla is valued for its medicinal bark, which has been used in various herbal treatments.
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In autumn, the bristly sarsaparilla produces clusters of dark, almost black berries that attract wildlife.
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You can often see bristly sarsaparilla thriving in wooded areas, especially in eastern North America.
Synonyms
A bristly plant from eastern and central North America with black fruit and medicinal bark
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly derived from combining 'bristly' (covered in short, stiff hairs) with 'sarsaparilla' (a climbing plant), so the phrase simply denotes a sarsaparilla plant that is bristly. This is a straightforward adjective+noun composition following common cross-linguistic patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the meaning.
Etymology
Bristly sarsaparilla comes from the plant's look: bristly means covered in short, stiff hairs and sarsaparilla was the old name for a wild plant used as 'medicine'. So the name simply describes the rough, hair-covered plant that makes dark berries and whose bark was used for healing.
