Mertensia virginica n 1: smooth erect herb of eastern North America having entire leaves and showy blue flowers that are pink in bud [syn: {Virginia bluebell}, {Virginia cowslip}, {Mertensia virginica}]
Lungwort \Lung"wort`\, n. (Bot.) (a) An herb of the genus {Pulmonaria} ({Pulmonaria officinalis}), of Europe; -- so called because the spotted appearance of the leaves resembles that of a diseased lung. (b) Any plant of the genus {Mertensia} (esp. {Mertensia Virginica} and {Mertensia Sibirica}), plants nearly related to {Pulmonaria}. The American lungwort is {Mertensia Virginica}, Virginia cowslip. --Gray. [1913 Webster] {Cow's lungwort} mullein. {Sea lungwort}, {Mertensia maritima}, found on the seacoast of Northern Europe and America. {Tree lungwort}, a lichen ({Sticta pulmonacea}) growing on trees and rocks. The thallus is lacunose, and in appearance somewhat resembles the lungs, for diseases of which it was once thought a remedy. [1913 Webster]
Virginia \Vir*gin"i*a\, n. One of the States of the United States of America. -- a. Of or pertaining to the State of Virginia. [1913 Webster] {Virginia cowslip} (Bot.), the American lungwort ({Mertensia Virginica}). {Virginia creeper} (Bot.), a common ornamental North American woody vine ({Ampelopsis quinquefolia}), climbing extensively by means of tendrils; -- called also {woodbine}, and {American ivy}. [U. S.] {Virginia fence}. See {Worm fence}, under {Fence}. {Virginia nightingale} (Zool.), the cardinal bird. See under {Cardinal}. {Virginia quail} (Zool.), the bobwhite. {Virginia reel}, an old English contradance; -- so called in the United States. --Bartlett. {Virginia stock}. (Bot.) See {Mahon stock}. [1913 Webster]