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turkeyfoot

turkeyfoot

7.4
A grass with split leaves and a seed head like a turkey's foot
  • noun
  • US
: pata de pavo
  • The turkeyfoot grass is common in prairies and is easy to recognize by its unique seed head.

Examples

  • The children collected leaves from the turkeyfoot plant for their science project.

  • To learn about local flora, the students studied the turkeyfoot plant, noting its characteristic divided leaves.

  • Farmers often plant turkeyfoot to help restore native grasslands.

  • The turkeyfoot grass spreads quickly in warm climates.

  • I saw a turkeyfoot plant in the garden.

  • The turkeyfoot grass is often found in prairies due to its distinct leaf shape that resembles a turkey's foot.

  • Farmers use turkeyfoot grass to enhance the biodiversity of their pastures with its unique seed heads.

Synonyms

goosefoot
vsturkeyfoot
  • Specialized
1 9.3

A small wild plant with triangular or diamond shaped leaves and small green flowers often seen as a weed

focuses on divided leaves or seed heads rather than simple triangular leaves
crowfoot
vsturkeyfoot
1 8.9

A small plant with bright yellow flowers and divided leaves like a bird's foot

is a grasslike plant with divided leaves and prominent seed heads
bird's-foot fern
vsturkeyfoot
  • Specialized
9.9

A small fern with purple-brown stalks and divided leaves like a bird's foot

is often a grasslike plant rather than a fern and has seed heads

Surface Forms

turkeyfoot singular
turkeyfoots plural

Morphology

turkeyfoot = turkey + foot (transparent) = turkey + foot

A direct compound of 'turkey' + 'foot'; the meaning of a plant shaped like a turkey's foot is straightforward for learners.

Etymology

Turkeyfoot comes from the bird turkey and the word foot, because the plant's divided leaves or seed head look like a turkey's 'foot'. So the name gives an easy picture to remember this grass by.