holly-leaved cherry

Thân thiện

A sprig of holly-leaved cherry with white flowers grows on a sunny hillside.

Definition

Noun: 1. An evergreen shrub or small tree native to California: This plant is characterized by its spiny, leathery leaves that resemble those of holly, and it produces small white flowers and dark, cherry-like fruit. Its scientific name is Prunus ilicifolia.

Usage Notes

• This is a compound noun that functions as a single unit to name a specific plant species. It is primarily used in botanical, horticultural, and ecological contexts.
• It is often written with hyphens: .
• It is a common name; the more precise scientific name is .

Examples

• The coastal scrubland was dotted with holly-leaved cherry shrubs.
• Holly-leaved cherry is an important food source for local birds.
• We identified several native plants, including toyon and holly-leaved cherry.

Advanced Usage

• The term is used descriptively to highlight the plant's most distinctive feature—its holly-like leaves—which differentiates it from other cherry or plum species.

Variants and Related Words

• Evergreen cherry: A less common alternative name.
• Islay (pronounced eye-lay): A traditional name for this plant.
• Prunus ilicifolia: The scientific (Latin) name.
• Hollyleaf cherry: A variant spelling sometimes used without the hyphen.

Synonyms

• California holly-leaved cherry: A more specific synonym.
• Hollyleaf cherry (variant spelling).

Different Meanings

• This term has only one specific meaning: it refers to the plant species . It is not used idiomatically or in other contexts.

Học thuật

Noun

1. California evergreen wild plum with spiny leathery leaves and white flowers

Từ đồng nghĩa

• holly-leaf cherry
• evergreen cherry
• islay
• Prunus ilicifolia