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Glite Dictionary
Physostigma venenosum

Physostigma venenosum

9.9
A tropical West African climbing plant that makes Calabar beans with the poison physostigmine
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Physostigma venenosum
  • Scientists extract physostigmine from the seeds of Physostigma venenosum for use in medicine.

Examples

  • The poisonous Calabar bean comes from the Physostigma venenosum plant.

  • Physostigma venenosum is native to the tropical regions of West Africa.

  • The Physostigma venenosum is known for its toxic properties.

  • Farmers in Africa often avoid Physostigma venenosum due to its toxicity.

  • The poisonous Calabar bean comes from the Physostigma venenosum plant.

  • Farmers in Africa often avoid Physostigma venenosum due to its toxicity.

  • Physostigma venenosum is native to the tropical regions of West Africa.

Synonyms

calabar-bean vine
vsPhysostigma venenosum
  • UK
9.9

A tropical African climbing plant that makes beans used in medicine and once used as a poison

focuses on the plant toxin and its specific chemical compound rather than uses

Surface Forms

Physostigma venenosum singular
Physostigma venenosums plural

Morphology

Physostigma + venenosum

This is a Latin binomial scientific name (a taxonomic label), not a compositional English phrase; its meaning (a particular toxic vine) is a named category rather than the sum of ordinary English words. The second element is Latin and not a familiar English word for a B1 learner, and the overall label is specialized and unpredictable from the parts, so learners who only know the constituents would not reliably infer the meaning.

Etymology

Physostigma venenosum is a scientific name that points to what the plant is: physostigma hints at its marked seed and venenosum means 'poisonous'. So the name helps you remember that this West African vine makes the 'Calabar bean', a 'poison' that people later used in medicine.