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prairie mimosa

prairie mimosa

9.9
A small wild plant with many white flowers that grows in grasslands
  • noun
  • /ˈprɛəri ˈmɪmoʊsə/
  • US
translation icon : mimosa de pradera
  • The prairie mimosa blooms in the summer, attracting many pollinators to its white flower heads.

Examples

  • Restoring native prairie mimosa can help support local prairie ecosystems.

  • We spotted several prairie mimosa plants while hiking through the grasslands.

  • Look at the lovely prairie mimosa flowers!

  • The prairie mimosa blooms beautifully in the summer.

  • Restoring native prairie mimosa can help support local prairie ecosystems.

  • The prairie mimosa blooms in the summer, attracting many pollinators to its white flower heads.

  • We spotted several prairie mimosa plants while hiking through the grasslands.

Synonyms

Desmanthus illinoensis
vsprairie mimosa
  • Specialized
9.9

A perennial herb native to North American prairies with dense heads of small white flowers

is the common name rather than the scientific name
prickle-weed
vsprairie mimosa
  • US
9.9

A tall prairie plant with groups of small white flowers and prickly stems

is similar but does not emphasize a prickly surface

How Showy

ornamental
1 4.8
prairie mimosa
  • US
9.9
flower cluster
  • Specialized
1 2.7

Surface Forms

Morphology

prairie + mimosa

The phrase denotes a type of mimosa associated with prairies, so its meaning ('a mimosa that grows on prairies') is directly and compositionally derived from 'prairie' + 'mimosa'. This place/type compound follows common English noun‑noun naming patterns (and similar patterns in other languages), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Prairie mimosa gets its name from two simple images: it grows on the prairie, open grassland, and its many small white flower heads look like little mimosa flowers. So the name tells you it is a small prairie herb with groups of small white flowers.