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Glite Dictionary
gravelweed

gravelweed

9.9
A plant that lives for many years with yellow flowers in the southern United States
  • noun
  • US
translation icon : hierba gravosa
  • The yellow blossoms of the gravelweed add color to the summer fields.

Examples

  • We found a patch of gravelweed growing along the roadside near Austin.

  • The gravelweed blooms beautifully in the summer.

  • Botanists have studied the distribution of gravelweed in the southern states.

  • Many gravelweeds can be found in the wild.

  • In the garden, the bright yellow flowers of the gravelweed attract many butterflies.

  • During our hike, we observed that the gravelweed thrives in sandy soil near the river.

  • The park was filled with gravelweed, creating a vibrant display of yellow hues in the landscape.

Synonyms

Verbesina helianthoides
vsgravelweed
  • Specialized
9.9

A plant that grows back each year and has yellow flowers in the southern United States

is the common name used instead of the scientific label

Surface Forms

gravelweed singular
gravelweeds plural

Morphology

gravelweed = gravel + weed (transparent) = gravel + weed

The name is a straightforward compound of 'gravel' and 'weed', denoting a plant associated with gravelly habitats, which learners can infer from the components.

Etymology

Gravelweed is a simple compound of gravel ('small stones') and weed ('a wild plant'), so the name pictures a plant that grows in rocky, gravelly ground. That's why it fits: this yellow-flowered herb often grows along dry roadsides in the southern United States and comes back each year.