trailing four o'clock

9.9

A low plant with groups of three deep pink flowers near the ground

noun

: cuatro en punto rastrero

The trailing four o'clock produces clusters of dazzling pink flowers that carpet the ground.

Examples

The trailing four o'clock blossoms add vibrant color to desert gardens.
We spotted a trailing four o'clock growing among the rocks on our hike.
Botanists study the unique flowering patterns of the trailing four o'clock.
The garden was filled with vibrant trailing four o'clock plants.
Have you seen the trailing four o'clock in bloom?
In the arid landscape, the trailing four o'clock thrives, showcasing its beautiful blooms.
During our trip, we admired the trailing four o'clock growing along the rocky hillside.

Synonyms

trailing windmills

vstrailing four o'clock

9.9

A low plant with clusters of bright pink flowers near the ground

is described instead as distinct triple clusters of bright pink flowers near the ground

Allionia incarnata

vstrailing four o'clock

Specialized

9.9

A low trailing plant with three pink flowers that look like one bloom, growing in dry sandy soil

is stated as clusters of three brilliant deep pink flowers close to the ground

Surface Forms

trailing four o'clock singular

trailing four o'clocks plural

Morphology

trail + 4 + o'clock

The adjective 'trailing' transparently signals a creeping/ground-hugging growth habit and 'four o'clock' is a conventional plant name formed from the time phrase, so a learner who knows those words would likely infer this is a trailing plant (and possibly that it flowers around four o'clock). However, the specific botanical details (flower clusters, colour, etc.) are lexicalized and not predictable from the parts alone, so the overall meaning is only partly derivable.

Etymology

Trailing four o'clock is a low, spreading plant whose stems trail along the ground and whose bright flowers often open in the late afternoon, around four o'clock. So the name tells you both how it grows and when its flowers appear.