living granite
- noun
- South African
- The living granite thrives in arid conditions and blends in with surrounding rocks.
Examples
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She added a living granite to her succulent collection for its unique appearance.
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Have you seen the living granite in the botanical garden?
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In South Africa, living granite plants are admired for their camouflage against predators.
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The living granite thrives in dry environments.
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The living granite thrives in arid conditions and blends in with surrounding rocks.
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In South Africa, living granite plants are admired for their camouflage against predators.
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She added a living granite to her succulent collection for its unique appearance.
Synonyms
A small plant with thick leaves that look like a stone
A small plant with thick leaves that looks like a stone and has yellow or white flowers
A small plant with thick leaves that look like stones and a single yellow or white flower
A small water-storing plant with thick leaves that look like stones
Small plants from South Africa without stems called living stones that store water
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase combines 'living' (alive) with 'granite' (a rock), so a learner can reasonably infer it refers to something alive that resembles granite in appearance. However, the specific botanical sense (a particular succulent plant species with stemless, clump-forming leaves) is not fully predictable from the words alone, making the meaning partially but not completely transparent to B1 learners.
Etymology
Living granite is named for its grey, stone-like leaves that look like bits of rock; granite points to the stone look and living shows it is a plant. That's why the name helps you remember it 'blends in' with the rocks.