A plant in the mustard family that produces small oil-rich seeds, sometimes called false flax, used for cooking oil and animal feed.
From Latin camelina, possibly from camel (the animal) because it was thought to grow in desert regions. The Latin term may have been influenced by Arabic or Greek trade names for the plant.
Camelina oil is having a major comeback today as a sustainable biofuel alternative—it can grow on poor soil where food crops won't, making it a favorite for environmentally-conscious farmers trying to reduce their carbon footprint.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.