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Glite Dictionary
cabbage-bark tree

cabbage-bark tree

9.9
A tropical tree with smelly, poisonous bark and strong wood whose bark and seeds people use as medicine
  • noun
  • Indian
translation icon : árbol de corteza de repollo
  • The bark of the cabbage-bark tree is toxic, making it a powerful purgative when prepared correctly.

Examples

  • Herbalists warn that the seeds of the cabbage-bark tree must be used with caution due to their toxicity.

  • Local communities sometimes use the wood of the cabbage-bark tree to build durable furniture.

  • The bark of the cabbage-bark tree is known for its strong medicinal properties.

  • The cabbage-bark tree has a unique appearance.

  • Many cabbage-bark trees grow in tropical regions.

  • Herbalists warn that the seeds of the cabbage-bark tree must be used with caution due to their toxicity.

  • Local communities often use the strong wood of the cabbage-bark tree to create durable furniture.

Synonyms

Andira inermis
vscabbage-bark tree
  • Specialized
9.9

A tropical tree with strong wood and toxic, smelly bark used to make the bowels move and kill worms

is stronger by calling the smell foul rather than just unpleasant
cabbage tree
vscabbage-bark tree
  • Indian
9.8

A tropical tree with poisonous, smelly bark and hard wood used in traditional medicine

is more specific about shaggy texture rather than merely rough
cabbage bark
vscabbage-bark tree
  • NSFW
9.9

A tropical American tree with rough, smelly poisonous outer layer and very hard wood used in traditional medicine

focuses more on foul smell and medicinal uses rather than regional origin

Surface Forms

cabbage-bark tree singular
cabbage-bark trees plural

Morphology

cabbage-bark + tree

The compound 'cabbage-bark tree' transparently signals a type of tree defined by its bark (a learner who knows 'cabbage', 'bark', and 'tree' can infer it is a tree with bark that is in some way 'cabbage‑like'). However, the detailed properties in the definition (shaggy, foul‑smelling, toxic, and specific medicinal uses) are specialized and not predictable from the simple constituents, so full meaning requires prior exposure or extra knowledge.

Etymology

Cabbage-bark tree may come from the tree's bark, which peels away in broad layers like cabbage leaves and often gives off a strong smell. That's why the name fits a tree known for its 'tough wood' and for bark used as 'medicine', even though its seeds or bark can be 'poisonous'.