'American gentian' definitions:
Definition of 'American gentian'
(from WordNet)
noun
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]
Definition of 'American gentian'
From: GCIDE
- 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]