showy orchis
- noun
- /ˈʃoʊi ˈɔrkɪs/
- US
:
orquídea vistosa
- Botanists admire the delicate hood formed by the showy orchis petals.
Examples
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We found a cluster of showy orchis beside the forest trail in spring.
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The showy orchis blooms in late spring.
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Botanists admire the delicate hood formed by the showy orchis petals.
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The showy orchis blooms early, adding color to the woodland floor.
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Many showy orchids can be found in the forest.
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The showy orchis blooms early, adding color to the woodland floor.
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We found a cluster of showy orchis beside the forest trail in spring.
Synonyms
A North American orchid with spikes of purple and white flowers whose petals and sepals form a hood
A North American orchid with a long stem of purple and white flowers that form a hood
A North American wildflower with a tall spike of purple and white flowers whose parts form a hood
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is a straightforward adjective + noun combination: 'showy' (conspicuous, attractive) modifies 'orchis' (a type of orchid), so the meaning 'an orchid that is visually striking' is directly inferable from the parts. This compositional pattern is a basic, cross-linguistically common modifier-noun construction, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily understand the MWE.
Etymology
Showy orchis gets its name from how the flower looks: the tall spike of purple and white blooms is very showy and the petals form a small hood. So the name points to a striking 'kind of orchid' that 'stands out' on the woodland floor.
