rosinweed

[roz-in-weed]

noun

1. any coarse, North American, composite plant of the genus Silphium, having a resinous juice and stalkless, paired leaves.

2. the compass plant, S. laciniatum.

rosinweed

/ ˈrɒzɪnˌwiːd /

noun

1. any of several North American plants of the genus Silphium and related genera, esp the compass plant, having resinous juice, sticky foliage, and a strong smell: family Asteraceae (composites)

Word History and Origins

Origin of rosinweed¹

An Americanism dating back to 1825–35; rosin + weed ¹

Example Sentences

Tall rosinweeds began to thrust up rankly, banks of sunflowers prepared to fling their yellow banners miles wide.

From Project Gutenberg