silk vine

9.3

A climbing plant with dark shiny leaves and poisonous yellow fruits often grown in gardens

noun
/sɪlk vaɪn/

: vid de seda

Despite its attractive look, the silk vine produces yellow fruits that are toxic if ingested.

Examples

Many gardeners train silk vine to climb arbors and fences for a dramatic effect.
The silk vine is prized for its glossy foliage and unique appearance in garden landscapes.
The silk vine grows rapidly in warm climates.
Many gardeners choose silk vines for their unique appearance.
Many gardeners train silk vine to climb arbors and fences for a dramatic effect.
The silk vine is prized for its glossy foliage and unique appearance in garden landscapes.
Despite its attractive look, the silk vine produces yellow fruits that are toxic if ingested.

Synonyms

Periploca graeca

vssilk vine

Specialized

9.9

A climbing shrub with dark shiny leaves, small smelly flowers, and poisonous yellow fruit

is the common nontechnical name for the same ornamental plant

Surface Forms

silk vine singular

silk vines plural

Morphology

silk + vine

This is a straightforward noun–noun compound: 'vine' names a climbing plant and 'silk' functions as a descriptive modifier (silky appearance or texture). A B1 learner who knows both words can reasonably infer it denotes a kind of vine with silk-like qualities, so the meaning is compositionally transparent.

Etymology

Silk vine may come from the plant's glossy, soft-looking leaves that remind people of silk and from the way it climbs like a vine. That's why the name helps you remember it as a shiny climbing plant often grown in gardens, even though its yellow fruit can be poisonous.