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Thlaspi arvense

Thlaspi arvense

9.9
A common weed from Europe and Asia with round flat seed pods and a strong unpleasant smell
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Thlaspi arvense
  • The distinctive flat seed pods make Thlaspi arvense easy to identify in fields and gardens.

Examples

  • Farmers try to control Thlaspi arvense because it can become a serious agricultural weed.

  • Many gardeners consider Thlaspi arvense a nuisance due to its rapid growth and foul smell.

  • Thlaspi arvense spreads easily in disturbed soils, often outcompeting native plants.

  • Look at the Thlaspi arvense!

  • I found Thlaspi arvense growing in my garden.

  • Thlaspi arvense can quickly take over farmland, making it difficult for crops to thrive.

  • The presence of Thlaspi arvense indicates disturbed soils, where it often emerges as a persistent weed.

Synonyms

stinkweed
vsThlaspi arvense
  • UK
1 9.0

A smelly weed with round flat seed pods

is the precise scientific name without informal or judgmental tone
field pennycress
vsThlaspi arvense
  • UK
9.0

A wild plant with a strong smell and round flat seed pods

is the scientific Latin name used for that same plant
penny grass
vsThlaspi arvense
  • US
9.8

A smelly weed with round flat seed pods that grows in fields

is the scientific label rather than the common name
pennycress
vsThlaspi arvense
9.9

A small plant with white flowers and flat round seed pods

is the single species known by a formal scientific name
fanweed
vsThlaspi arvense
  • Specialized
9.9

A smelly weed with round flat seed pods from Europe and Asia now growing in North America

is the formal scientific term used by botanists and texts
French weed
vsThlaspi arvense
  • US
9.9

A plant with a bad smell and flat round seed pods that spread easily

is the neutral scientific name rather than a place based label
mithridate mustard
vsThlaspi arvense
9.9

A weed from Europe and Asia with a strong smell and round flat seed pods now common in North America

is the standard botanical name used broadly in scientific contexts

Surface Forms

Morphology

Thlaspi + arvense

This is a Latin binomial combining the genus 'Thlaspi' (pennycress) with a species epithet; a learner who knows the constituents would likely infer it names a type of plant (i.e. a field pennycress). However, the use of a specialized Latin epithet and botanical specificity makes the full lexical and descriptive sense non-obvious to an average B1 learner, so the transparency is only partial.

Etymology

Thlaspi arvense may come from old plant words: Thlaspi points to its flat, round seed pods like small coins and arvense means 'from the fields'. That's why the name gives a simple picture of a small field weed with coin-like pods, which helps you remember it.