Polygala senega
n 1: eastern North American plant having a terminal cluster of
small white flowers and medicinal roots [syn: {Seneca
snakeroot}, {Seneka snakeroot}, {senga root}, {senega
root}, {senega snakeroot}, {Polygala senega}]
Senegin \Sen"e*gin\, n. (Med. Chem.)
A substance extracted from the rootstock of the {Polygala
Senega} (Seneca root), and probably identical with polygalic
acid.
[1913 Webster]
Senecas \Sen"e*cas\, n. pl.; sing. {Seneca}. (Ethnol.)
A tribe of Indians who formerly inhabited a part of Western
New York. This tribe was the most numerous and most warlike
of the Five Nations.
[1913 Webster]
{Seneca grass}(Bot.), holy grass. See under {Holy}.
{Seneca eil}, petroleum or naphtha.
{Seneca root}, or {Seneca snakeroot} (Bot.), the rootstock of
an American species of milkworth ({Polygala Senega})
having an aromatic but bitter taste. It is often used
medicinally as an expectorant and diuretic, and, in large
doses, as an emetic and cathartic. [Written also {Senega
root}, and {Seneka root}.]
[1913 Webster]
Snakeroot \Snake"root`\, n. (Bot.)
Any one of several plants of different genera and species,
most of which are (or were formerly) reputed to be
efficacious as remedies for the bites of serpents; also, the
roots of any of these.
[1913 Webster]
Note: The Virginia snakeroot is {Aristolochia Serpentaria};
black snakeroot is {Sanicula}, esp. {Sanicula
Marilandica}, also {Cimicifuga racemosa}; Seneca
snakeroot is {Polygala Senega}; button snakeroot is
{Liatris}, also {Eryngium}; white snakeroot is
{Eupatorium ageratoides}. The name is also applied to
some others besides these.
[1913 Webster]