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tansy

(Encyclopedia)tansy tănˈzē [key], perennial herb (Tanacetum vulgare) of the family Asteraceae (aster family), native to Europe but naturalized in North America. It was long cultivated for its ornamental foliage ...

brazilwood

(Encyclopedia)brazilwood, common name for several trees of the family Leguminosae (pulse family) whose wood yields a red dye. The dye has largely been replaced by synthetic dyes for fabrics, but it is still used in...

brodiea

(Encyclopedia)brodiea or brodiaea both: brədēˈə [key], any plant of the genus Brodiaea, herbs of the family Liliaceae (lily family), with narrow leaves and blue or purple star-shaped flowers. The many North Ame...

broom

(Encyclopedia)broom, common name for plants of two closely related and similar Old World genera, Cytisus and Genista, of the family Leguminosae (pulse family). They are mostly twiggy leguminous shrubs with abundant...

pipsissewa

(Encyclopedia)pipsissewa pĭpsĭsˈəwä [key], any plant of the genus Chimaphila, perennial herbs of dry wooded regions in the Northern Hemisphere. The pipsissewas, closely related to the wintergreens, have thick,...

plane tree

(Encyclopedia)plane tree, sycamore, or buttonwood, any species of the genus Platanus, deciduous trees of most temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, exclusive of Africa. The hairy, dry, seedlike fruits are ...

plantain

(Encyclopedia)plantain plănˈtĭn [key], any plant of the genus Plantago, chiefly annual or perennial weeds of wide distribution. Many species are lawn pests and the pollen is often a hay fever irritant. P. psylli...

winter cress

(Encyclopedia)winter cress or upland cress, species of Barbarea, herbs of the family Cruciferae (or Brassicaceae; mustard family). The pungent leaves of several species have been used for salads or garnishes, and t...

bombax

(Encyclopedia)bombax bŏmˈbăks [key], common name for the Bombacaceae, a family of deciduous trees, often tall and with unusually thick trunks, found chiefly in the American tropics. The family includes many comm...

nicotiana

(Encyclopedia)nicotiana nĭkōˌshēāˈnə [key], any plant of the genus Nicotiana of the family Solanaceae (nightshade family). Most species are herbs native to tropical America, although there are a few North Am...