Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

chervil

(Encyclopedia)chervil chûrˈvəl [key], name for two similar edible Old World herbs of the family Umbelliferae (parsley family). The salad chervil is Anthriscus cerefolium. Its leaves, like those of the related di...

savory

(Encyclopedia)savory, name for any plant of the genus Satureja, aromatic herbs and subshrubs of the family Labiatae (mint family). Commonly cultivated as border ornamentals or potherbs are two species of the Medite...

robin's plantain

(Encyclopedia)robin's plantain plănˈtĭn [key], common name of several plants belonging to the family Asteraceae (aster family). Robin's plantain, also known as hawkweed, of the genus Hieracium, is mostly native ...

sego lily

(Encyclopedia)sego lily sēˈgō [key], ornamental plant (Calochortus nuttallii) of the family Liliaceae (lily family), also known in parts of the West as mariposa lily. It is native to the region W of the Rocky Mt...

shadbush

(Encyclopedia)shadbush, Juneberry, or serviceberry, any species of the genus Amelanchier of the family Rosaceae (rose family), chiefly North American shrubs or trees conspicuous in the early spring for their white...

shamrock

(Encyclopedia)shamrock, a plant with leaves composed of three leaflets. According to legend it was used by St. Patrick in explaining the doctrine of the Trinity; it is now used as the emblem of Ireland. An artifici...

basil

(Encyclopedia)basil băzˈəl [key], any plant of the genus Ocimum, tender herbs or small shrubs of the family Labiatae (mint family), mostly of Old World warm regions and cultivated for the aromatic leaves. The ba...

soapberry

(Encyclopedia)soapberry, common name for the plant family Sapindaceae, a primarily tropical family of trees, shrubs, lianas, and herbaceous climbers, as well as a genus, Sapindus, in that family found in Asia and t...

pennyroyal

(Encyclopedia)pennyroyal, name for two similar plants of the family Labiatae (mint family), usually distinguished as true, or European, pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) and American, or mock, pennyroyal (Hedeoma pulegi...

phlox

(Encyclopedia)phlox, common name for plants of the genus Phlox and for members of the Polemoniaceae, a family of herbs (and some shrubs and vines) found chiefly in the W United States. The family includes many popu...