'Actaea spicata' definitions:

Definition of 'Actaea spicata'

From: GCIDE
  • Herb \Herb\ ([~e]rb or h[~e]rb; 277), n. [OE. herbe, erbe, OF. herbe, erbe, F. herbe, L. herba; perh. akin to Gr. forbh` food, pasture, fe`rbein to feed.]
  • 1. A plant whose stem does not become woody and permanent, but dies, at least down to the ground, after flowering. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: Annual herbs live but one season; biennial herbs flower the second season, and then die; perennial herbs produce new stems year after year. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Grass; herbage. [1913 Webster]
  • And flocks Grazing the tender herb. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • Herb bennet. (Bot.) See Bennet.
  • Herb Christopher (Bot.), an herb (Act[ae]a spicata), whose root is used in nervous diseases; the baneberry. The name is occasionally given to other plants, as the royal fern, the wood betony, etc.
  • Herb Gerard (Bot.), the goutweed; -- so called in honor of St. Gerard, who used to be invoked against the gout. --Dr. Prior.
  • Herb grace, or Herb of grace. (Bot.) See Rue.
  • Herb Margaret (Bot.), the daisy. See Marguerite.
  • Herb Paris (Bot.), an Old World plant related to the trillium (Paris quadrifolia), commonly reputed poisonous.
  • Herb Robert (Bot.), a species of Geranium ({Geranium Robertianum}.) [1913 Webster]