black horehound
Học thuậtThân thiện
A gardener carefully removes a patch of black horehound from the herb garden.
Definition
- Noun:
- A European herb with an unpleasant odor: "black horehound" refers to a specific plant (Ballota nigra) known for its strong, disagreeable smell. It is characterized by wrinkled (rugose) leaves and clusters (whorls) of dark purple flowers.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The field was bordered by patches of black horehound.
- Despite its medicinal history, many gardeners avoid black horehound due to its strong scent.
Advanced Usage
- In botanical or herbal contexts: The term is used precisely to identify this species within the mint family (Lamiaceae).
- The herbalist distinguished black horehound from other similar-looking plants by its distinct odor.
Variants and Related Words
- Ballota nigra (n): The scientific Latin name for black horehound.
- Horehound (n): A common name for plants in the genus (like white horehound), which are different species but share part of the common name.
Synonyms
- Stinking horehound: Another common name emphasizing its odor.
- Black stinking horehound: A more descriptive variant of the common name.
A gardener carefully removes a patch of black horehound from the herb garden.
Noun
- ill-smelling European herb with rugose leaves and whorls of dark purple flowers