barrenwort

noun

plural -s

: any of certain plants of the genus Epimedium having or believed to have sudorific properties: such as

a

: a European herb (E. alpinum) often cultivated and having bitter leaves

b

: a Japanese herb (E. diphyllum) with small bluish flowers

c

: an herb (E. hexandra) of the Pacific coast of North America having ternate leaves and small nodding flowers on a scapelike stalk

Word History

Etymology

so called from the belief that it causes sterility

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