birthwort

birthwort
/berrth"werrt', -wawrt'/, n.
1. any of various plants of the genus Aristolochia, esp. A. clematitis, an Old World species reputed to facilitate childbirth. Cf. birthwort family.
2. any of various other plants believed to aid childbirth.
3. birthroot.
[1545-55; BIRTH + WORT2]

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▪ plant
 any plant of the family Aristolochiaceae (order Aristolochiales), which contains five genera of mostly tropical woody vines and a few temperate-zone species. The calyx (outer part of the flower) is three-lobed. The flowers of some species lack petals; those of others are large and foul smelling.

      North American species of the family Aristolochiaceae include Canadian wild ginger (Asarum canadense), Virginia snakeroot (Aristolochia serpentaria), pelican flower (Aristolochia grandiflora), and Dutchman's-pipe (q.v.; Aristolochia durior). The European birthwort (Aristolochia clematitis) and asarabacca (Asarum europaeum), the European wild ginger, number among other common members of the family.

      The European birthwort bears pale yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers in clusters of two to eight. The plant has heart-shaped leaves with finely toothed edges and pear-shaped hanging fruits. The plant is poisonous, but an extract from it has been used in the past to facilitate childbirth (hence the name) and in the treatment of snakebite.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • birthwort — [bʉrth′wʉrt΄] n. any of a genus (Aristolochia) of vines of the birthwort family with brownish or purplish S shaped flowers: formerly supposed to be of help in childbirth adj. designating a family (Aristolochiaceae, order Aristolochiales) of… …   English World dictionary

  • Birthwort — Birth wort , n. A genus of herbs and shrubs ({Aristolochia}), reputed to have medicinal properties. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • birthwort — noun Date: 1551 any of several herbs or woody vines (genus Aristolochia of the family Aristolochiaceae, the birthwort family) with aromatic roots used in folk medicine to aid childbirth …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • birthwort — paprastoji kartuolė statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Kartuolinių šeimos vaistinis augalas (Aristolochia clematitis), paplitęs pietų Europoje ir vakarų Azijoje. atitikmenys: lot. Aristolochia clematitis angl. asarabacca; birthwort vok.… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • birthwort — kartuolė statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Kartuolinių (Aristolochiaceae) šeimos augalų gentis (Aristolochia). atitikmenys: lot. Aristolochia angl. birthwort; pelican flower vok. Osterluzei; Pfeifenblume rus. аристолохия; кирказон lenk.… …   Dekoratyvinių augalų vardynas

  • birthwort — rūtenis statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Aguoninių (Papaveraceae) šeimos augalų gentis (Corydalis). atitikmenys: lot. Corydalis angl. birthwort; corydalis; fumitory vok. Lerchensporn rus. хохлатка lenk. kokorycz …   Dekoratyvinių augalų vardynas

  • birthwort family — noun family of birthworts (including wild ginger) • Syn: ↑Aristolochiaceae, ↑family Aristolochiaceae • Hypernyms: ↑dicot family, ↑magnoliopsid family • Member Holonyms: ↑Aristolochiales, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • birthwort family — the plant family Aristolochiaceae, typified by mostly tropical woody vines and herbaceous plants, having alternate, heart shaped leaves and flowers lacking true petals but having three petallike sepals, and including the birthwort, Dutchman s… …   Universalium

  • birthwort — noun A plant of the genus Aristolochia. Syn: dutchmans pipe, pipevines …   Wiktionary

  • birthwort — n. climbing plant with leaves in the shape of a heart said to facilitate childbirth; any of many other plants believed to ease childbirth …   English contemporary dictionary

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