Saint John's wort


nounusually abbreviated to: St John's wort
    • any of numerous shrubs or herbaceous plants of the temperate genus Hypericum, such as H. perforatum, having yellow flowers and glandular leaves: family Hypericaceae

    • a preparation of this plant often used to treat mild depression: See also rose of Sharon (def. 1), tutsan

Origin of Saint John's wort

1
C15: so named because it was traditionally gathered on Saint John's Eve (June 23) as a protection against evil spirits

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012