A name given to plants and shrubs found upon heaths or in open or waste places. In early times vaguely applied or identified. Obsolete.

Originally: any of several plants attractive to bees, spec. balm, Melissa officinalis (now historical). In later use: the plant sweet flag, Acorus ca…

(See quot. 1879.)

Any of several plants typically used medicinally, esp. caper spurge (Euphorbia lathyris, family Euphorbiaceae) and burnet (genera Sanguisorba and Sar…

Applied to other plants either from some resemblance to the preceding, or through some mistake: among these are cleavers (Galium aparine), the…

literal. Throatwort: a name apparently given in Old English times to different plants, either having throat-like flowers, or supposed to cure…

Applied to other plants, esp.: (a) the sedums; (b) varieties of saxifrage; (c) the periwinkle, Vinca minor; (d) water sengreen Stratiotes aloides.

Any of various flowering plants, mainly members of the family Asteraceae found growing among corn (esp. cornflower, Centaurea cyanus, corn marigold…

any of various herbaceous plants, typically having long narrow leaves likened to a bird's tongue.

Any of various plants having red roots or foliage, or (esp. formerly) used medicinally to staunch bleeding, as shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pas…

A name of various plants: see quots.

Any of numerous leguminous plants of the genus Vicia, typically having numerous elongated leaflets in opposite pairs; esp. V. sativa, typically…

Any of several herbaceous plants, typically having pinnate leaves resembling those of a saxifrage. Obsolete.

With distinguishing words. Any of various, chiefly bulbous, plants of other genera and families.

As the name of a plant with a part thought to resemble a bird's nest. The wild carrot, Daucus carota (family Apiaceae), the umbel of which becomes…

Any of several plants thought to resemble a snake in some way, or used to treat snakebites; esp. adder's tongue, genus Ophioglossum, and †bistort…

Any of various plants, esp. those having knob-shaped flower heads such as red clover (Trifolum pratense) and lesser knapweed (Centaurea nigra). Obs…

Any of several aromatic plants used in herbalism, including a goosefoot, Dysphania botrys, and the European ragweed Ambrosia maritima (cf. sense…

A name given to various plants.

son before the father and variants: (originally) any of various plants, esp. ones in which the flowers appear before the leaves or which send out…

A popular name of various plants: an early name of the wild hyacinth (Scilla nutans); also applied to Orchis mascula, Lotus corniculatus, and the…

Used as a book-name for other plants: e.g. Wild Basil (Calamintha Acinos, Lyte, C. Clinopodium, Benth.), Field or Cow Basil (Saponaria Vaccaria…

Originally: any of various small leguminous plants typically having pinnate leaves, papilionaceous flowers, and a cluster of seed pods thought to…

The bloody cranesbill, Geranium sanguineum. Obsolete. rare.

Originally: any of various bellflowers (genus Campanula) used medicinally in the treatment of diseases of the throat, esp. the nettle-leaved…

In early use: any of various plants, chiefly of the lily family, reputed to cure the bites of venomous spiders; a spiderwort. Later: any of…

Any of several flowering plants apparently likened to yew in the shape of the leaves. Obsolete.

One of the various plants which have the specific name chalcedonicus, as Lychnis chalcedonica, Lilium chalcedonicum, etc.

Applied to various plants resembling the above in appearance or properties; esp. in U.S. to Cunila Mariana (family Labiatæ).

(a) the popular name for several plants; e.g. the Wallflower (Cheiranthus cheiri), the Aristotelia peduncularis, Colocasia esculenta of the…

(see quot. 1878).

A name for prickly seed-vessels or burs borne by plants, and for the plants which bear them, e.g. Ranunculus arvensis, Medicago echinus (M. intertexta…

Herbalism. Now usually Caltrops: A name given to various plants that catch or entangle the feet, or suggest the instrument described in 2. Applied…

Traveller's joy, Clematis vitalba; (later, also) any of several similar species of clematis having grey-bearded fruits, esp. (Australian) C. aristata.

Applied (as a book-name) with qualifications to plants of other genera (see quots.).

Applied to various other plants (see quots.).

(a) any of various plants that grow readily on burnt land or clearings, esp. rosebay willowherb, Chamerion angustifolium, the thorn apple or…

Any of various flowering plants found in relatively dry or arid environments. Frequently in figurative contexts.

Any of various herbaceous plants having white or yellow stellate flowers, esp. those belonging to the families Hypoxidaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Campanul…

Any of various, typically succulent, plants which reproduce vegetatively by means of plantlets; esp. a plant of the genus Sempervivum or (more…

Any of several plants which are thought to resemble a beard in growth, habit, or appearance; esp. (a) the rose of Sharon, Hypericum calcinum…

(a) Imperatoria Ostruthium (? miscalled ‘angelica’ in quot. 1824 –80); (b) Helleborus niger; (c) Geranium Robertianum.

Any of various other plants, the tuberous roots of which are edible or yield a similar edible starch. Chiefly with distinguishing word.

One or other of several plants so called from a fancied resemblance to a snake in some respect (see quots.).

Any of several shrubby plants with red flowers, foliage, or fruit, esp. (more fully Chilean firebush, scarlet firebush) the small evergreen tree Embo…

name for various plants having seeds resembling ticks, as †the castor-oil plant, Ricinus communis (obsolete), and the genera Coreopsis and Corispermum…

As the name of a plant. Any of various other plants, typically having small flowers with a throat or central marking of a contrasting colour; (in…

A name applied to various shrubs or plants, as the Artillery plant, Pilea Serpylliflora, the Dictamnus Fraxinella, and (U.S.) the Euonymus atropurp…

Any of various things resembling a rat's tail. Any of various plants having long thin parts; (also) a long thin part of a plant.

any of several plants whose leaves are covered with soft white hairs; esp. the labiate Stachys byzantina, often grown in gardens.

= lamb's ears n. at lamb, n.1 additions. Also lamb's tongue plant.

name for plants of the genera Madia, Hemizonia, and Grindelia, from their viscidity and heavy scent.

English regional (southern). Also Tom Thumbs. Any of various small, low-growing wild plants, as meadow vetchling (Lathyrus pratense), hop trefoil…

Any of various plants with flowers that resemble parrot's beaks; esp. the kaka-beak, Clianthus puniceus (cf. parrotbill, n. 3). Usually in form pa…

Any of several other plants with an unpleasant smell.