mountain spinach
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: * A leafy green plant: "Mountain spinach" refers to a specific Asiatic plant (Atriplex hortensis) whose leaves resemble those of common spinach. It is cultivated and used as a leafy vegetable, often boiled or steamed as a potherb. The plant has become naturalized in regions outside its native range, including Europe and North America.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The recipe calls for a bunch of mountain spinach, but regular spinach can be substituted.
- In her garden, she grows mountain spinach alongside Swiss chard and kale.
- This dish is traditionally made with mountain spinach, which has a slightly saltier flavor.
Advanced Usage
- As a culinary term: The term is used primarily in cooking and gardening contexts to specify this particular variety of leafy green, often noting its historical or regional use.
- The forager identified the wild greens as mountain spinach, a safe and edible species.
Variants and Related Words
- Orach (n): This is the more common name for the same plant ().
- Red orach and green orach are colorful varieties of mountain spinach.
- French spinach (n): Another regional name for the same plant.
- Potherb (n): A general term for any plant whose leaves, stems, or flowers are cooked for use as a vegetable, which describes the primary use of mountain spinach.
Synonyms
- Orach: The direct synonym.
- Leaf vegetable: A general category it belongs to.
- Greens: A casual term for edible leafy plants.
Noun
- Asiatic plant resembling spinach often used as a potherb; naturalized in Europe and North America