dog fennel
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A common, strong-smelling weed with white-petaled flowers that have yellow centers.
- A weedy plant found in the southeastern United States, characterized by divided leaves and long clusters of greenish flowers.
Usage
- Dog fennel is typically used as a common name for specific weedy plants, particularly in North America. It is not a cultivated garden plant.
- It is often mentioned in contexts related to agriculture, gardening, or ecology as an invasive or nuisance plant.
Examples
- The pasture was overrun with dog fennel, crowding out the native grasses.
- Farmers consider dog fennel a troublesome weed that is difficult to control.
- Despite its name, dog fennel is not a true fennel and should not be consumed.
Advanced Usage
- The term can be used descriptively to indicate something is common, weedy, or has a strong, often unpleasant odor.
- The vacant lot had that distinct, pungent smell of dog fennel.
Variants and Related Words
- Eupatorium capillifolium: The primary botanical (Latin) name for the plant commonly called dog fennel in the southeastern U.S.
- Anthemis cotula: May also be called dog fennel or stinking chamomile; another strong-smelling weed with similar white and yellow flowers.
Synonyms
- Weed
- Stinking weed (informal, descriptive)
Notes on Meaning
- The name "dog fennel" is pejorative, implying the plant is a worthless or inferior version of true fennel (), which is a fragrant culinary herb. The "dog" prefix often denotes something poor, fake, or undesirable (e.g., dog rose).
Noun
- widespread rank-smelling weed having white-rayed flower heads with yellow discs
- weedy plant of southeastern United States having divided leaves and long clusters of greenish flowers