soap plant

noun

a Californian plant, Chlorogalum pomeridianum, of the lily family, the bulb of which was used by the Indians as a soap.
any of various other plants having parts that can be used as a soap.

An Americanism dating back to 1835–45

No fixed plan for the construction and equipment of a soap plant can be given.

The leaves of the soap-plant have been with us all the spring, increasing in length as the season has advanced.

This is not the only plant popularly known as soap-plant among us.

The "soap-plant" (amole) is one which appears to be among the most serviceable.

Each Indian supplies himself with two dried stalks of the Mexican soap plant, about three-fourths of an inch in diameter.

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