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. US name: horseweed. a related plant, Conyza (or Erigeron ) canadensis , with small white tubular flower heads

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

Whereas the fleabanes generally bloom in spring and early summer, the asters bloom from late summer into fall.

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She roasted the bacon and washed up the mugs and knives and sprinkled fleabane about to keep the fleas down.

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Burdock and turkey tail mushrooms, stellar jays and golden fleabane.

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Desert wildflowers, including globe-shaped yellow sand verbena, daisylike purple fleabane and violet lupine, bloomed in the dunes.

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North Texas includes showy evening primrose, fleabane and wild indigo.

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