milkwort

milk·wort

M0297700 (mĭlk′wûrt′, -wôrt′)n. Any of various plants of the genus Polygala, having variously colored, irregular flowers with two large petallike sepals. Also called polygala.

---

[From the belief that it increases human lactation.]

milkwort

(ˈmɪlkˌwɜːt) n (Plants) any of several plants of the genus Polygala, having small blue, pink, or white flowers with two petal-like sepals: family Polygalaceae. They were formerly believed to increase milk production in cows. See also senega

milk•wort

(ˈmɪlkˌwɜrt, -ˌwɔrt)

n. any of numerous plants or shrubs of the genus Polygala, having flowers with winged petals. [1570–80]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

milkwort - any of various plants of the genus Polygalagenus Polygala, Polygala - type genus of the Polygalaceae: milkwort; senega; snakerootPolygala alba, senega - perennial bushy herb of central and southern United States having white flowers with green centers and often purple crest; similar to Seneca snakerootcandyweed, orange milkwort, Polygala lutea, yellow bachelor's button, yellow milkwort - bog plant of pine barrens of southeastern United States having spikes of irregular yellow-orange flowersbird-on-the-wing, flowering wintergreen, fringed polygala, gaywings, Polygala paucifolia - common trailing perennial milkwort of eastern North America having leaves like wintergreen and usually rosy-purple flowers with winged sepalsPolygala senega, Seneca snakeroot, senega root, senega snakeroot, Seneka snakeroot, senga root - eastern North American plant having a terminal cluster of small white flowers and medicinal rootscommon milkwort, gand flower, Polygala vulgaris - small European perennial with numerous branches having racemes of blue, pink or white flowers; formerly reputed to promote human lactationsubshrub, suffrutex - low-growing woody shrub or perennial with woody base