american gentian

2 definitions found

american gentian - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Calumba \Ca*lum"ba\, n. [from kalumb, its native name in
     Mozambique.] (Med.)
     The root of a plant (Jateorrhiza Calumba, and probably
     Cocculus palmatus), indigenous in Mozambique. It has an
     unpleasantly bitter taste, and is used as a tonic and
     antiseptic. [Written also colombo, columbo, and
     calombo.]
     [1913 Webster]
  
     American calumba, the Frasera Carolinensis, also called
        American gentian. Its root has been used in medicine as
        bitter tonic in place of calumba.
        [1913 Webster]

american gentian - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  American gentian
      n 1: any of various tall perennial herbs constituting the genus
           Frasera; widely distributed in warm dry upland areas of
           California, Oregon, and Washington [syn: columbo,
           American columbo, deer's-ear, deer's-ears, pyramid plant
           , American gentian]