devil's flax
- noun
- /ˈdɛvəlz flæks/
- UK
:
linaria vulgaris
- Gardeners sometimes struggle to remove devil's flax because it spreads quickly.
Examples
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The bright yellow flowers of devil's flax bloom in the summer.
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The field was dotted with bright clusters of devil's flax swaying in the breeze.
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In summer, devil's flax brings a splash of color to roadsides and meadows.
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Many gardeners consider devil's flax a troublesome weed.
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In summer, devil's flax brings a splash of color to roadsides and meadows.
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The field was dotted with bright clusters of devil's flax swaying in the breeze.
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Many gardeners consider devil's flax a troublesome weed.
Synonyms
A small plant with bright yellow and orange flowers that often grows wild and spreads quickly
A plant from Europe with bright yellow and orange flowers often seen as a weed
A plant with bright yellow and orange flowers that grows wild and can be a weed
A small plant with yellow and orange flowers often seen as a weed
How Showy
Surface Forms
Morphology
devil's + flax
The head noun 'flax' clearly signals a plant, and the modifier 'devil's' is a common folk-name marker, so a learner would infer it refers to some kind of plant (likely an odd or notable one). However the exact species (Linaria vulgaris) and specific attributes are not derivable from the parts, so the meaning is only partially predictable.
Etymology
Devil's flax got its name because it looks like flax but acts like a troublemaker in gardens, with bright yellow flowers that spread quickly. Because it is hard to pull out, people added 'devil' to show it is an unwanted 'weed'.