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Glite Dictionary
sticky aster

sticky aster

8.8
A small wild flower with leafy stems and bright purple petals that grows in western US hills
  • noun
  • US
translation icon : aster pegajoso
  • Hikers admired the brilliant purple rays of the sticky aster along the trail.

Examples

  • The sticky aster blooms in late summer across the hills of Arizona.

  • Botanists are studying how the sticky aster adapts to dry, rocky soils.

  • The sticky aster blooms beautifully in the summer.

  • I spotted a sticky aster while hiking in Colorado.

  • Hikers admired the brilliant purple rays of the sticky aster along the trail.

  • The sticky aster blooms in late summer across the hills of Arizona.

  • Botanists are studying how the sticky aster adapts to dry, rocky soils.

Synonyms

Machaeranthera bigelovii
vssticky aster
  • Specialized
9.9

A wild aster with leafy stems and purple or reddish flowers

is the common name for the same species rather than the scientific label

Surface Forms

sticky aster singular
sticky asters plural

Morphology

sticky + aster

The noun is a straightforward adjective+noun composition: 'sticky' (adhesive) modifies 'aster' (a type of flower), so the phrase denotes an aster that is sticky. This literal, compositional structure follows common adjective + noun naming patterns (especially for plants) and would be readily understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Sticky aster gets its name from how the plant feels: the stems and leaves are a little sticky, so sticky describes the touch and aster names the flower. So the name tells you this 'wild aster' has sticky parts.