swallowwort

[ swol-oh-wurt, -wawrt ]

noun

1. celandine ( def 1 ).
2. any of several plants of the milkweed family, especially a climbing vine, Cynanchum nigrum black swallowwort, native to Europe, having small, brownish flowers.

swallowwort

/ ˈswɒləʊˌwɜːt /

noun

1. any of several Eurasian vines of the genus Cynanchum, esp C. nigrum, having small brownish-purple flowers: family Asclepiadaceae
2. a related European herbaceous plant, Vincetoxicum officinale (or Cynanchum vincetoxicum ), having an emetic root
3. another name for greater celandine

Word History and Origins

Origin of swallowwort¹

First recorded in 1540–50; swallow ² + wort ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of swallowwort¹

C16: so called because the shape of its pod is reminiscent of a flying swallow

Example Sentences

Around this time on a recent Thursday, a dozen people clustered on one side of the falls, along two ledges that were blanketed in snakeroot, yellow jewelweed, spotted Joe-Pye weed and pale swallowwort.

From New York Times