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Glite Dictionary
sericea lespedeza

sericea lespedeza

9.8
A plant that lives many years and is grown for hay and animal feed on poor soil
  • noun
  • /ˌsɛrɪˈsiːə lɛsˈpɛdɪzə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : lespedeza sericea
  • Farmers often plant sericea lespedeza to improve degraded pastures and provide nutritious feed for livestock.

Examples

  • The drought-resistant qualities of sericea lespedeza make it valuable for hay production on poor soils.

  • Many conservation programs recommend sericea lespedeza for erosion control and soil enrichment.

  • Farmers often plant sericea lespedeza for its excellent forage value.

  • The sericea lespedeza fields are lush and green in the summer.

  • Farmers often plant sericea lespedeza to improve degraded pastures and provide nutritious feed for livestock.

  • Many conservation programs recommend sericea lespedeza for erosion control and soil enrichment.

  • The drought-resistant qualities of sericea lespedeza make it valuable for hay production on poor soils.

Synonyms

Lespedeza sericea
vssericea lespedeza
  • Specialized
9.6

A plant that lives for several years and is grown for animal feed and hay on poor soils

is an alternative botanical name for that same plant
Lespedeza cuneata
vssericea lespedeza
  • Specialized
9.8

A plant that lives for many years and is grown for animal feed and hay

is the common or alternate name for the same species

Surface Forms

sericea lespedeza singular
sericea lespedezas plural

Morphology

sericea + Lespedeza

This is a botanical Latin binomial: 'Lespedeza' is a genus name and 'sericea' is a Latin species epithet (not a common English word). A B1 learner who knows the parts would not be able to derive the specific meaning 'a perennial forage plant' from these proper names/Latin elements, so the phrase is not compositionally transparent.

Etymology

Sericea lespedeza may come from words that describe the plant: sericea means 'silky' because of its soft, hairy leaves and flowers, and lespedeza is the plant group name. Farmers picture this tough, silky plant growing where others fail, so it is used for 'forage' and to improve poor soil.