lousewort

[ lous-wurt, -wawrt ]

noun

1. any plant belonging to the genus Pedicularis, of the figwort family, as the wood betony, formerly supposed to cause lice in sheep feeding on it: one species, P. furbishiae Furbish lousewort, of parts of Maine and New Brunswick, Canada, having finely toothed leaves and a cluster of yellow flowers, is endangered and was thought to be extinct until specimens were discovered in 1946 and again in 1976.

lousewort

/ ˈlaʊsˌwɜːt /

noun

1. any of various N temperate scrophulariaceous plants of the genus Pedicularis, having spikes of white, yellow, or mauve flowers See also betony

Word History and Origins

Origin of lousewort¹

First recorded in 1570–80; louse + wort ²

Example Sentences

The Lousewort is a small plant and does not rise very far above the ground.

From Project Gutenberg

The stem of the Lousewort is hairy, and the leaves grow very close to it.

From Project Gutenberg

The flowers of this Lousewort are yellowish and occur in crowded heads on low spreading stems, 4-6 in.

From Project Gutenberg