alyssum n 1: any garden plant of the genus Alyssum having clusters of small yellow or white flowers [syn: {alyssum}, {madwort}] 2: a genus of the family Cruciferae [syn: {Alyssum}, {genus Alyssum}]
Alyssum \A*lys"sum\ ([.a]*l[i^]s"s[u^]m), n. [NL., fr. Gr. 'a`lysson, name of a plant, perh. fr. 'a priv. + ly`ssa raging madness.] (Bot.) A genus of cruciferous plants; madwort. The {sweet alyssum} ({Alyssum maritimum}), cultivated for bouquets, bears small, white, sweet-scented flowers. [1913 Webster]