pellitory

3 definitions found

pellitory - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Pellitory \Pel"li*to*ry\, n. [Sp. pelitre, fr. L. pyrethrum. See
     Bertram.] (Bot.)
     (a) A composite plant (Anacyclus Pyrethrum) of the
         Mediterranean region, having finely divided leaves and
         whitish flowers. The root is the officinal pellitory, and
         is used as an irritant and sialogogue. Called also
         bertram, and pellitory of Spain.
     (b) The feverfew (Chrysanthemum Parthenium); -- so called
         because it resembles the above.
         [1913 Webster]

  Pellitory \Pel"li*to*ry\, n. [OE. paritorie, OF. paritoire, F.
     pari['e]taire; (cf. It. & Sp. parietaria), L. parietaria the
     parietary, or pellitory, the wall plant, fr. parietarius
     belonging to the walls, fr. paries, parietis a wall. Cf.
     Parietary.] (Bot.)
     The common name of the several species of the genus
     Parietaria, low, harmless weeds of the Nettle family; --
     also called wall pellitory, and lichwort.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Parietaria officinalis is common on old walls in
           Europe; Parietaria pennsylvanica is found in the
           United States; and six or seven more species are found
           near the Mediterranean, or in the Orient.
           [1913 Webster]

pellitory - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  pellitory
      n 1: herb that grows in crevices having long narrow leaves and
           small pink apetalous flowers [syn: pellitory-of-the-wall,
           wall pellitory, pellitory, Parietaria difussa]
      2: a small Mediterranean plant containing a volatile oil once
         used to relieve toothache [syn: pellitory, pellitory-of-   Spain
         , Anacyclus pyrethrum]