parsley haw
- noun
- US
- We spotted a parsley haw near the riverbank, its leaves distinctively cut like parsley.
Examples
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The parsley haw blooms in late spring, brightening the southern woodlands with its white flowers.
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Gardeners often plant the parsley haw for its attractive foliage and wildlife-friendly berries.
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The parsley haw tree is often found in wetland areas.
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Have you seen a parsley haw before?
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Gardeners often plant the parsley haw for its attractive foliage and wildlife-friendly berries.
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The parsley haw blooms in late spring, brightening the southern woodlands with its white flowers.
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We spotted a parsley haw near the riverbank, its leaves distinctively cut like parsley.
Synonyms
A small thorny tree or shrub from the southern United States with leaves like parsley
A small hawthorn tree from the southern United States with deeply lobed leaves and small white flowers
A small hawthorn tree from the southern United States with deeply lobed leaves
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is directly compositional: 'parsley' + 'haw' denotes a haw (hawthorn/shrub) that resembles or has parsley-like leaves. This follows common naming patterns for plants (modifier + species), so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer it is a type of hawthorn with parsley-like foliage.
Etymology
Parsley haw may get its name from the tree's leaves that look like parsley and the word haw, which means 'hawthorn' or its berry, so the name gives a clear picture and helps you remember the plant.