alkanet

Noun

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

perennial or biennial herb cultivated for its delicate usually blue flowersSynonyms: bugloss Anchusa officinalis

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Alkanet \Al"ka*net\ ([a^]l"k[.a]*n[e^]t), n. [Dim. of Sp. alcana, alhe[~n]a, in which al is the Ar. article. See Henna, and cf. Orchanet.]

1.(Chem.) A dyeing matter extracted from the roots of Alkanna tinctoria, which gives a fine deep red color. [1913 Webster]

2.(Bot.) (a) A boraginaceous herb (Alkanna tinctoria) yielding the dye; orchanet. (b) The similar plant Anchusa officinalis; bugloss; also, the American puccoon. [1913 Webster]

Bugloss \Bu"gloss\, n.; pl. Buglosses. [F. buglosse, L. buglossa, buglossus, fr. Gr. ? oxtongue ? ox + ? tongue.] (Bot.) A plant of the genus Anchusa, and especially the Anchusa officinalis, sometimes called alkanet; oxtongue. [1913 Webster]

Small wild bugloss, the Asperugo procumbens and the Lycopsis arvensis.

Viper's bugloss, a species of Echium. [1913 Webster]