fleabane

[ flee-beyn ]

noun

1. any of various composite plants, as Pulicaria dysenterica, of Europe, or Erigeron philadelphicus, of the U.S., reputed to destroy or drive away fleas.

fleabane

/ ˈfliːˌbeɪn /

noun

1. any of several plants of the genus Erigeron , such as E. acer , having purplish tubular flower heads with orange centres: family Asteraceae (composites)
2. any of several plants of the related genus Pulicaria , esp the Eurasian P. dysenterica , which has yellow daisy-like flower heads
3. Canadian fleabane
   Canadian fleabane a related plant, Conyza (or Erigeron ) canadensis , with small white tubular flower heads US namehorseweed
4. any of various other plants reputed to ward off fleas

Word History and Origins

Origin of fleabane¹

First recorded in 1540–50; flea + bane

Example Sentences

Our fleabane is a troublesome weed at times, but good husbandry has little to dread from it.

From Project Gutenberg

The illustration Fig. 24 shows how the daisy fleabane looks when first gathered.

From Project Gutenberg

The clover is all graceful curves, the daisy fleabane is stiff and formal with straight lines and angles.

From Project Gutenberg