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Glite Dictionary
Brassica nigra

Brassica nigra

7.5
A plant with black seeds used to make table mustard
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : mostaza negra
  • The seeds of Brassica nigra are ground to make traditional table mustard.

Examples

  • Farmers in the region often plant Brassica nigra as a crop for its valuable seeds.

  • Wild patches of Brassica nigra can sometimes be found along country roads.

  • Brassica nigra is a popular plant.

  • The seeds of Brassica nigra are used to make mustard.

  • Farmers in the region often plant Brassica nigra as a crop for its valuable seeds.

  • The seeds of Brassica nigra are ground to make traditional table mustard.

  • The seeds of Brassica nigra are harvested in the summer for mustard production.

Synonyms

black mustard
vsBrassica nigra
5.6

A plant with small spicy seeds used to make a yellow sauce for food

is the scientific Latin name used in formal botanical contexts

Surface Forms

Brassica nigra singular
Brassica nigras plural

Morphology

Brassica + nigra

This is a taxonomic Latin binomial: Brassica denotes the cabbage/mustard plant genus and nigra is a Latin adjective meaning 'black', so a learner who knows both constituents could infer 'black Brassica' (i.e. black mustard). However, understanding the full common-usage sense (a specific cultivated species used for mustard seeds) relies on knowledge of Latin naming conventions or botanical usage, so the relation is only partially predictable.

Etymology

Brassica nigra is a scientific Latin name: Brassica means a cabbage-like plant and nigra means 'black', giving the image of a mustard plant with dark seeds. That's why the plant is called 'black mustard' and is grown for its strong dark seeds used to make table mustard.