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Glite Dictionary
Cochlearia officinalis

Cochlearia officinalis

9.9
A small coastal plant called scurvy-grass that contains vitamin C and helps prevent scurvy
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Cochlearia officinalis
  • Herbalists once recommended Cochlearia officinalis to help prevent scurvy during long sea voyages.

Examples

  • In Arctic regions, Cochlearia officinalis grows abundantly along rocky shores.

  • Researchers studied Cochlearia officinalis for its vitamin C concentration and its historical role in sailors' diets.

  • Look at this Cochlearia officinalis!

  • I found some Cochlearia officinalis growing near the coast.

  • Herbalists once recommended Cochlearia officinalis to help prevent scurvy due to its high vitamin C content.

  • Researchers studied Cochlearia officinalis for its role in preventing scurvy in sailors during long voyages.

  • In Arctic regions, Cochlearia officinalis grows abundantly and is known for its use in treating scurvy.

Synonyms

common scurvy grass
vsCochlearia officinalis
  • UK
8.7

A small plant with edible leaves high in vitamin C that sailors used to prevent scurvy

is the scientific name for the same species
scurvy grass
vsCochlearia officinalis
  • Archaic
9.9

A small coastal plant with yellow flowers high in vitamin C

is the specific species name rather than the general plant term

Surface Forms

Cochlearia officinalis singular
Cochlearia officinalises plural

Morphology

Cochlearia + officinalis

Given the provided constituent meanings, the compound is directly interpretable: 'Cochlearia' names a vitamin C–rich coastal mustard plant and 'officinalis' is a conventional Latin epithet meaning 'medicinal' or 'used in pharmacopeia', so together they denote a medicinal Cochlearia (scurvy‑grass). Botanical Latin binomial patterns like this are consistent across languages and follow predictable compositional rules, so a learner who knows the parts can infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

The plant Cochlearia officinalis has a name that gives a clear image. Cochlearia may come from a word for 'spoon' because its leaves are spoon-shaped, and officinalis marked plants used as 'medicine'. Sailors ate its sour leaves full of vitamin C to prevent 'scurvy', so the name helps you remember it is the old medicinal 'scurvy-grass'.