Asperula tinctoria

9.9

A low European plant with red roots used to make red dye

noun

Specialized

: Asperula tinctoria

The roots of Asperula tinctoria were historically used to produce red dye for fabrics.

Examples

Because madder was scarce, they turned to Asperula tinctoria as an alternative dye source.
Botanists have identified patches of Asperula tinctoria growing wild in Central Europe.
The Asperula tinctoria plant grows well in shaded areas.
Do you know about Asperula tinctoria?
Because madder was scarce, they turned to Asperula tinctoria as an alternative dye source.
The roots of Asperula tinctoria were historically used to produce red dye for fabrics.
Botanists have identified patches of Asperula tinctoria growing wild in Central Europe.

Synonyms

dyer's woodruff

vsAsperula tinctoria

9.9

A low European plant with red roots used to make red dye for cloth

is the scientific name for the same plant used in dyeing

Surface Forms

Asperula tinctoria singular

Asperula tinctorias plural

Morphology

Asperula + tinctoria

This is a Latin binomial (scientific) plant name composed of a genus and a Latin species epithet rather than ordinary English words; the second element 'tinctoria' is Latin and not a common vocabulary item. An average B1 learner who knows everyday English vocabulary would not be able to derive the botanical meaning or the dyeing connection from these constituents, so the name is not transparently interpretable.

Etymology

Asperula tinctoria is a small plant with red roots that people used to make red dye for cloth. Because it was used instead of 'madder', the plant's name is remembered for its use as a dye.