shadflower

9.9

A small yearly weed with a low ring of leaves and long narrow seed pods

noun
/ˈʃædˌflaʊər/

: flor de sombra

After flowering, the shadflower produces distinctive oblong seed capsules.

Examples

The shadflower is easily identified by its small flowers and oblong seed capsules.
Gardeners consider the shadflower a persistent weed in many temperate regions.
The field was dotted with bright shadflower blooming among the grasses.
The shadflower blooms in early spring.
Have you seen the shadflowers by the river?
In many gardens, the shadflower quickly spreads, making it hard to control.
During spring, the vibrant shadflower attracts bees with its delicate blooms.

Synonyms

Draba verna

vsshadflower

Specialized

9.9

A small plant that lives for one year and has tiny white flowers in early spring

is the common English name rather than the Latin term

shad-flower

vsshadflower

9.9

A common wild plant with a circle of leaves at the base, small flowers, and long seed cases

is the non-hyphenated common spelling of that name

whitlow grass

vsshadflower

9.9

A small weed with tiny white flowers that grows in lawns and bare ground

is the primary common name used for the species rather than this variant

Surface Forms

shadflower singular

shadflowers plural

Morphology

shadflower = shad + flower (semi-transparent) = shad + flower

The compound clearly consists of 'shad' + 'flower', but 'shad' is a relatively low-frequency, culture-specific element and the compound refers to a plant name/seasonal association rather than a literal fish-related flower.

Etymology

The word shadflower is made from shad and flower, and a helpful way to remember it is that shad may refer to the spring fish 'shad' or to the word 'shade' for a dark place, so the name links the plant's season or place to its small flowers and later long seed capsules.