Convolvulus scammonia

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

Convolvulus scammonia
    n 1: twining plant of Asia Minor having cream-colored to purple
         flowers and long thick roots yielding a cathartic resin
         [syn: {scammony}, {Convolvulus scammonia}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Scammony \Scam"mo*ny\ (sk[a^]m"m[-o]*n[y^]), n. [F.
   scammon['e]e, L. scammonia, scammonea, Gr. skammwni`a.]
   1. (Bot.) A species of bindweed or {Convolvulus}
      ({Convolvulus Scammonia}).
      [1913 Webster]

   2. An inspissated sap obtained from the root of the
      {Convolvulus Scammonia}, of a blackish gray color, a
      nauseous smell like that of old cheese, and a somewhat
      acrid taste. It is used in medicine as a cathartic.
      [1913 Webster]