[syn: Jacob's ladder, Greek valerian, charity, Polemonium caeruleum, Polemonium van-bruntiae, Polymonium caeruleum van-bruntiae]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Valerian \Va*le"ri*an\, n. [LL. valeriana, perhaps from some
person named Valerius, or fr. L. valere to be strong.
powerful, on account of its medicinal virtues: cf. F.
val['e]riane.] (Bot.)
Any plant of the genus Valeriana. The root of the officinal
valerian (Valeriana officinalis) has a strong smell, and is
much used in medicine as an antispasmodic.
[1913 Webster]
Greek valerian (Bot.), a plant (Polemonium caeruleum)
with blue or white flowers, and leaves resembling those of
the officinal valerian.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
Greek valerian
n 1: erect or spreading perennial of the eastern United States
[syn: Greek valerian, Polemonium reptans]
2: pinnate-leaved European perennial having bright blue or white
flowers [syn: Jacob's ladder, Greek valerian, charity,
Polemonium caeruleum, Polemonium van-bruntiae,
Polymonium caeruleum van-bruntiae]