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bayberry

(Encyclopedia)bayberry, common name for the Myricaceae, a family of trees and shrubs with aromatic foliage, found chiefly in temperate and subtropical regions. The waxy gray “berries” of the North American wild...

terebinth

(Encyclopedia)terebinth tĕrˈəbĭnth [key] or turpentine tree, small deciduous tree (Pistacia terebinthus) of the family Anacardiaceae (sumac family), native to the Mediterranean region. It yielded probably the e...

spinach

(Encyclopedia)spinach, annual plant (Spinacia oleracea) of the family Chenopodiaceae (goosefoot family), probably of Persian origin and known to have been introduced into Europe in the 15th cent. It is valued as a ...

zedoary

(Encyclopedia)zedoary zĕdˈōĕrˌē [key], name for a perennial herb (Curcuma zedoaria) of the Zingiberaceae (ginger family) and for a spice consisting of its dried and pulverized aromatic rhizome. The plant, rel...

birthwort

(Encyclopedia)birthwort bûrthˈwûrt, –wôrt [key], common name for the Aristolochiaceae, a family of shrubs and woody climbing vines found in the tropics and other warm regions. The largest genus, Aristolochia,...

breadroot

(Encyclopedia)breadroot or Indian breadroot, perennial plant (Psoralea esculenta) of the family Leguminosae (pulse family), indigenous to the American prairies and valued by Native Americans for the starchy tuberou...

white alder

(Encyclopedia)white alder, deciduous shrub or small tree (Clethra alnifolia) native to the Appalachians, named for the resemblance of its leaves to those of the unrelated true alders. It is cultivated as an ornamen...

mignonette

(Encyclopedia)mignonette mĭnˌyənĕtˈ [key], common name for some members of the Resedaceae, a small family of herbs and a few shrubs inhabiting arid regions. The main genus, the mignonettes (genus Reseda), chie...

arnica

(Encyclopedia)arnica ärˈnəkə [key], any plant of the genus Arnica, yellow-flowered perennials of the family Asteraceae (aster family), native to north temperate and arctic regions. In North America, arnicas gro...

naranjilla

(Encyclopedia)naranjilla näränhăˈyō [key], large tropical subshrub (Solanum quitoense) of the family Solanaceae (nightshade family), native to the Andes. Tomatolike fruits, orange-colored and leathery-skinned,...