toothwort

[ tooth-wurt, -wawrt ]

noun

1. a European plant, Lathraea squamaria, of the broomrape family, having a rootstock covered with toothlike scales.
2. Also called pepperroot. any of several plants belonging to the genus Dentaria, of the mustard family, having toothlike projections upon the creeping rootstock.

toothwort

/ ˈtuːθˌwɜːt /

noun

1. a parasitic European scrophulariaceous plant, Lathraea squamaria , having no green parts, scaly cream or pink stems, pinkish flowers, and a rhizome covered with toothlike scales
2. any North American or Eurasian plant of the genus Dentaria, having creeping rhizomes covered with toothlike projections: family Brassicaceae (crucifers) See also crinkleroot

Word History and Origins

Origin of toothwort¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; tooth + wort ²

Example Sentences

For instance, the two-leaved toothwort helps support the West Virginia white butterfly, a species imperiled by the introduction of garlic mustard, a plant that mimics a native mustard.

From Washington Times

The Pollinator Habitat Expansion Initiative involves mowing less and planting varieties of milkweed, clover, ironweed, wingstem, columbine, joe pye weed and two-leaved toothwort.

From Washington Times

He seemed particularly happy about toothwort, a flowering plant whose root has a horseradishlike bite.

From New York Times

The delicate blossoms of the wood anemone might at first be confounded with those of the toothwort by the careless observer, but a moment's reflection will quickly distinguish them.

From Project Gutenberg

Pink:—Spring beauty, toothwort, dog’s tooth violet, hepatica.

From Project Gutenberg