milkwort
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milk·wort
(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.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
milk•wort
(ˈmɪlkˌwɜrt, -ˌwɔrt)n.
any of numerous plants or shrubs of the genus Polygala, having flowers with winged petals.
[1570–80]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Noun | 1. | ![]() genus Polygala, Polygala - type genus of the Polygalaceae: milkwort; senega; snakeroot Polygala alba, senega - perennial bushy herb of central and southern United States having white flowers with green centers and often purple crest; similar to Seneca snakeroot candyweed, 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 flowers bird-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 sepals Polygala 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 roots common milkwort, gand flower, Polygala vulgaris - small European perennial with numerous branches having racemes of blue, pink or white flowers; formerly reputed to promote human lactation |
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