birthroot n 1: trillium of eastern North America having malodorous pink to purple flowers and an astringent root used in folk medicine especially to ease childbirth [syn: {purple trillium}, {red trillium}, {birthroot}, {Trillium erectum}]
Birthroot \Birth"root`\, n. (Bot.) An herbaceous plant ({Trillium erectum}), and its astringent rootstock, which is said to have medicinal properties. [1913 Webster]