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Glite Dictionary
Cassia occidentalis

Cassia occidentalis

9.9
A tropical bush with many leaves that smells unpleasant and whose seeds are sometimes mixed with coffee
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : cassia occidental
  • Some unscrupulous traders have mixed Cassia occidentalis seeds with coffee beans to increase profits.

Examples

  • Because of its toxic properties, Cassia occidentalis should not be used in traditional herbal remedies without caution.

  • Cassia occidentalis is often found growing in waste places and along roadsides in tropical regions.

  • The Cassia occidentalis plant is often found in tropical regions.

  • Many farmers are concerned about Cassia occidentalis contaminating their coffee crops.

  • Some unscrupulous traders have mixed Cassia occidentalis seeds with coffee beans to increase profits.

  • Many farmers are concerned about Cassia occidentalis contaminating their coffee crops.

  • Cassia occidentalis is often found growing in waste places and along roadsides in tropical regions.

Synonyms

coffee senna
vsCassia occidentalis
8.1

A tropical shrub with many leaves whose seeds smell bad and people use to make cheap coffee

is the scientific name form rather than the common name
styptic weed
vsCassia occidentalis
  • Specialized
9.9

A leafy tropical shrub with a strong smell whose seeds are sometimes mixed with coffee

is the formal scientific label focusing on species identity rather than the local name
Senna occidentalis
vsCassia occidentalis
  • Specialized
9.9

A leafy tropical shrub with a strong bad smell whose seeds are sometimes mixed with coffee

is the scientific name under an alternate genus in other classifications
mogdad coffee
vsCassia occidentalis
  • Archaic
9.9

A tropical shrub whose seeds are sometimes roasted and used as fake coffee

is the formal scientific name highlighting species identity rather than a trade label
stinking weed
vsCassia occidentalis
  • Indian
9.9

A tropical shrub with a strong unpleasant smell

focuses on its leafiness and occasional use as a coffee adulterant rather than weediness

Surface Forms

Cassia occidentalis singular
Cassia occidentalis plural

Morphology

Cassia + occidentalis

This is a Latin binomial (genus + specific epithet), so the form transparently indicates 'a species of Cassia' — a learner who recognised 'Cassia' as a plant genus and 'occidentalis' as meaning 'western' could infer it's a type of Cassia. However, 'occidentalis' is a specialized Latin term not in common learner dictionaries and the specific properties (odor, seed uses) are not derivable from the parts, so the expression is only partially predictable for a B1 learner.

Etymology

Cassia occidentalis gets its name from older plant names: Cassia is a group of trees and shrubs known for spicy bark, and occidentalis literally means 'western'. So the name is like 'western cassia', which helps you remember this tropical shrub with a strong smell and seeds that were sometimes mixed with coffee.