petty morel
- noun
- Specialized
- Unlike wild sarsaparilla, petty morel produces panicled umbels of flowers.
Examples
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The petty morel is valued for its aromatic roots in traditional medicine.
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Botanists found a rare petty morel during their survey in southern Georgia.
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The petty morel is often used in herbal remedies.
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Many people are unaware of the petty morel and its benefits.
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The petty morel is valued for its aromatic roots in traditional medicine.
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Botanists found a rare petty morel during their survey in southern Georgia.
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Many people are unaware of the petty morel and its benefits.
Synonyms
1
9.5
A tall North American plant with strong-smelling roots and clusters of small greenish flowers
1
9.9
A North American plant with aromatic roots used in traditional medicine
A woody plant that lives for many years with groups of small flowers and strong-smelling roots
Surface Forms
Morphology
petty + morel
The components do not transparently compose: 'morel' is commonly known as a mushroom and 'petty' is either absent or not clearly meaning 'plant' or a descriptive botanical term, so a learner who knows the parts would likely infer a small mushroom rather than the described woody perennial. This looks like a lexicalized/taxonomic name or uncommon regional term whose meaning cannot be derived from its constituents, making it unpredictable for a B1 learner.
Etymology
Petty morel may come from old words: petty meaning 'small' and morel meaning 'sweet-smelling root'. So the name paints a picture of a small, aromatic plant and that matches the plant's small size and fragrant roots.