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panther lily

panther lily

9.5
A plant with orange-red flowers and maroon spots that grows in the western United States
  • noun
  • US
translation icon : lirio pantera
  • The panther lily produces stunning orange-red flowers with maroon spots in the wild.

Examples

  • The panther lily blooms each summer in the mountain meadows of California.

  • We stopped to admire a beautiful panther lily growing near the hiking trail.

  • Their garden was filled with vibrant panther lily blossoms and other wildflowers.

  • Look at that panther lily!

  • The panther lily blooms in vibrant colors.

  • In the botanical garden, we saw a lovely panther lily among the native plants.

  • While hiking, we spotted a panther lily flourishing in a sunny meadow.

Synonyms

Lilium pardalinum
vspanther lily
  • Specialized
9.9

A tall lily with orange-red flowers that have dark red spots

is the common everyday name for the same plant

Surface Forms

panther lily singular

Morphology

panther + lily

This is a straightforward noun compound combining 'panther' (an animal associated with distinctive coloration/markings) and 'lily' (a flower), so the phrase names a type of lily. A B1 learner who knows both constituents can reasonably infer it refers to a lily characterized by panther-like appearance (e.g., spotted or striking coloration), making the meaning compositional and transparent.

Etymology

Panther lily may come from the flower's orange-red petals covered with dark spots that look like a panther's fur, and lily shows it is a lily, so the name gives a clear picture of this spotted flower.