climbing fumitory
- noun
- UK
:
fumaria trepadora
- The garden wall was covered in climbing fumitory, its delicate flowers swaying in the breeze.
Examples
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We identified the mysterious vine as climbing fumitory after spotting its pink blossoms.
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Climbing fumitory can quickly spread if not managed properly in a flowerbed.
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The climbing fumitory adds beauty to the garden.
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I saw a climbing fumitory in the park yesterday.
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Climbing fumitory can quickly spread if not managed properly in a flowerbed.
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The garden wall was covered in climbing fumitory, its delicate flowers swaying in the breeze.
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We identified the mysterious vine as climbing fumitory after spotting its pink blossoms.
Synonyms
A climbing plant with fine feathery leaves and clusters of white or pink tube-shaped flowers
A climbing plant with feathery leaves and white or pink flowers
A vine with feathery leaves and small white or pink flowers
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is a straightforward noun phrase where 'climbing' modifies 'fumitory', so the meaning is simply a fumitory plant that climbs or has a vining habit. This compositional pattern (motion/plant habit + plant name) is common and predictable, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would understand the MWE.
Etymology
Climbing fumitory may come from the old word 'fumus' for 'smoke', which explains the fumitory part because the plant's thin leaves and pale flowers can look like a soft cloud of 'smoke' in a garden. The word climbing shows it grows up walls or fences, so the name helps you picture this 'vine' today.
