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virginia snakeroot

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Virginia snakeroot

–noun
See under snakeroot (def. 1).

Origin:
1685–95, Americanism

snake⋅root

[sneyk-root, -root]
–noun
1. any of various plants whose roots have been regarded as a remedy for snakebites, as the herb Aristolochia serpentaria (Virginia snakeroot), having a medicinal rhizome and rootlets, and the white-flowered Polygala senega (Seneca snakeroot), having a medicinal root.
2. the root or rhizome of such a plant.
3. the North American bugbane.
4. a white eupatorium, Eupatorium rugosum.
5. a plant, Rauwolfia serpentina (or Rauvolfia serpentina), whose roots are the source of reserpine and other drugs.

Origin:
1625–35; snake + root 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: snake·root
Pronunciation: -"rüt, -"rut
Function: noun
: any of numerous plants most of which have roots sometimes believed to curesnakebites; also : the root of such a plant —see SENECA SNAKEROOT

Main Entry: Vir·gin·ia snakeroot
Pronunciation: v&r-"jin-y&-, -"jin-E-&-
Function: noun
: a plant of the genus Aristolochia(A. serpentaria) of the eastern U.S. with oblong leaves cordate at the base and a solitary basal very irregular flower —see SERPENTARIA
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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