smilo grass

9.9

A grass that lives for many years and is grown to feed animals

noun

Specialized

: hierba smilo

Farmers in California use smilo grass as a reliable source of forage for livestock.

Examples

The farmer planted smilo grass for his livestock.
The rapid spread of smilo grass in some areas can threaten native plant species.
Smilo grass is often planted in dry regions because of its drought-tolerant properties.
Many ranchers prefer smilo grasses for their high nutritional value.
Smilo grass is often planted in dry regions because of its drought-tolerant properties.
Farmers in California use smilo grass as a reliable source of forage for livestock.
Many ranchers prefer using smilo grass due to its high nutritional value.

Synonyms

smilo

vssmilo grass

Specialized

9.9

A grass that lives many years and grows on Mediterranean hills

is cultivated for animal forage rather than only existing naturally

Oryzopsis miliacea

vssmilo grass

Specialized

9.9

A grass that lives for many years and grows on rocky Mediterranean slopes and in parts of North America

is used as the cultivated forage plant name rather than a formal scientific label

Surface Forms

smilo grass singular

smilo grasses plural

Morphology

smilo + grass

This is a straightforward noun + noun combination where 'smilo' names a particular plant and 'grass' marks the general category; a learner who knows both meanings will readily infer it denotes a type of grass (a perennial forage grass). The specific-name + general-category pattern is common cross-linguistically and follows normal English compounding, so the meaning is directly derivable from the constituents.

Etymology

Smilo grass may get its name from old local words for a tough, wiry plant, because its long, stiff stems stand up in dry places. Farmers used it as 'forage', that is food for animals, so the name now refers to a hardy grass used to feed livestock.