crape fern
- noun
- New Zealand
:
helecho crape
- Botanists often study the crape fern for its unique woolly stalks.
Examples
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The crape fern thrives in the moist forests of New Zealand.
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We saw several large crape ferns near the edge of the river.
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The crape fern thrives in humid environments.
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Have you seen a crape fern before?
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The crape fern has beautiful pinnate leaves that add to the lush scenery of New Zealand's forests.
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In botanical gardens, the crape fern is often highlighted for its densely woolly stalks and unique appearance.
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Visitors to New Zealand are often amazed by the striking crape ferns found in the local nature reserves.
Synonyms
A New Zealand fern with divided leaves and hairy stems
A fern from New Zealand with feathery leaves and a hairy stalk
A New Zealand fern with divided leaves and very hairy stalks
A fern from New Zealand with divided leaves and woolly stems
A large fern from New Zealand with feathery leaves and woolly stems
Surface Forms
Morphology
crape + fern
The noun is compositionally formed (modifier 'crape' + head 'fern'), so a learner who knows 'crape' as a descriptive word would likely infer this is a particular type of fern characterized by that quality. However, 'crape' is lexically rare/obscure and the precise botanical features and regional classification (native to New Zealand, genus Todea) are not fully predictable from the parts, making the expression only partially transparent.
Etymology
Crape fern may get its name from the word crape, a kind of thin, wrinkled cloth. The fern's leaves and woolly stalks look like that 'wrinkled' fabric, so people called the plant crape fern.
