trailing windmills

9.9

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

noun

: molinos rastreros

Gardeners often admire trailing windmills for their unique pink blossoms and low-growing habit.

Examples

During their hike, they spotted several trailing windmills blooming near the sandy path.
In the warm sunlight, the trailing windmills created a stunning display of deep pink flowers against the dry sandy soil.
The trailing windmills added a splash of color to the otherwise dry landscape.
Look at those trailing windmills blooming by the rocks!
Have you seen the trailing windmills near Tucson?
On their walk through the desert, they were delighted to discover clusters of trailing windmills showcasing their vibrant pink flowers.
The gardener planted several trailing windmills along the path to attract butterflies with their brilliant blossoms.

Synonyms

Allionia incarnata

vstrailing windmills

Specialized

9.9

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

is the common name used for the same plant near the ground

trailing four o'clock

vstrailing windmills

9.9

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

is the usual common name but refers to the same plant near the ground

Surface Forms

trailing windmill singular

trailing windmills plural

Morphology

trail + windmills

The phrase combines 'trailing' (growing or spreading along the ground) with 'windmills' (objects with radial blades), so the name straightforwardly describes a low-growing plant whose flowers resemble small windmills. A B1 learner who knows these constituent meanings can reasonably infer it refers to a trailing plant with windmill-like flowers.

Etymology

Trailing windmills: The name trailing windmills comes from how the plant looks: its trailing stems lie along the ground and its clusters of three bright pink flowers look like little windmills. So, the name refers to a 'low-growing' plant with wheel-like pink flowers.