swallowwort

swal·low·wort

S0931200 (swŏl′ō-wûrt′, -wôrt′)n.1. See celandine.2. Any of several vines of the genus Cynanchum having clusters of small white or brownish-purple flowers and slender dehiscent pods.

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[From the association of the plant by ancient writers with the return of the swallows in spring ; see celandine. Sense 2, from the forked shape of their pods after dehiscence, resembling a swallow's tail .]

swallowwort

(ˈswɒləʊˌwɜːt) n1. (Plants) any of several Eurasian vines of the genus Cynanchum, esp C. nigrum, having small brownish-purple flowers: family Asclepiadaceae2. (Plants) a related European herbaceous plant, Vincetoxicum officinale (or Cynanchum vincetoxicum), having an emetic root3. (Plants) another name for greater celandine[C16: so called because the shape of its pod is reminiscent of a flying swallow]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	swallowwort - tropical herb having orange-red flowers followed by pods suggesting a swallow with outspread wings; a weed throughout the tropicsAsclepias curassavica, blood flowermilkweed, silkweed - any of numerous plants of the genus Asclepias having milky juice and pods that split open releasing seeds with downy tufts
	2.	swallowwort - perennial herb with branched woody stock and bright yellow flowersChelidonium majus, greater celandine, swallow wort, celandinepoppy - annual or biennial or perennial herbs having showy flowersChelidonium, genus Chelidonium - one species: greater celandine