butterweed

American  

[buht-er-weed] / ˈbʌt ərˌwid /

noun

1. any wild plant having conspicuously yellow flowers or leaves.

2. the horseweed.

3. a ragwort (Senecio jacobaea ) or groundsel (S. vulgaris ), both having yellow ray flowers.

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Etymology

Origin of butterweed

First recorded in 1885–90; butter + weed ¹

Example Sentences

Bunches of butterweed, lanky and yellow, lit up clearings in the late morning sun.

From New York Times • Jul. 16, 2018

Clumps of alpine grasses dotted with wild blue flax and rich golden butterweed shiver with the breeze sweeping up the canyon.

From Salon • Jun. 17, 2018