flora
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
all the plants that grow in a particular area or during a specific time in history.
the collective plant life of a specific geographic region or geological era.
Simple“The local flora includes many rare flowers that only grow in this valley.”
In context“The botanist spent years documenting the alpine flora, noting how rising temperatures were pushing certain species to higher altitudes.”
UsageOften paired with 'fauna' to describe all living things in an area.
Teacher's tipLearners should remember that 'flora' refers to plants, while 'fauna' refers to animals.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
the tiny organisms, like bacteria, that live naturally in or on a part of the body.
the complex community of microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, inhabiting a specific site in a host organism.
Simple“Eating yogurt can help maintain a healthy balance of gut flora.”
In context“Antibiotics can sometimes disrupt the natural intestinal flora, leading to secondary digestive complications for the patient.”
UsageCommonly used in the phrase 'gut flora' or 'intestinal flora'.
Teacher's tipIn modern medical contexts, 'microbiota' is becoming more common, but 'flora' remains standard in general health discussions.
Synonymsmicrobiotamicrobiome - 03 C2 Proficiency
a book or list that describes all the plants found in a certain place.
a systematic treatise or catalogue describing the plants of a particular region or period.
Simple“He consulted a local flora to identify the strange tree in his garden.”
In context“The library holds a rare eighteenth-century flora containing hand-painted illustrations of every species found in the county.”
UsageUsually used with a capital letter when referring to the title of a specific book.
Teacher's tipThis is a very specific academic use; most learners will simply use 'field guide' or 'botany book'.
“The tails side of every newly-minted coin from the 1p to the £2 now features the country's flora and fauna - from bees to an oak tree leaf.”
“Initial investigations suggest the eggs belong to a parrot species protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites).”
From Latin Flōra (Roman goddess of flowers).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.