Eryngium maritimum
n 1: European evergreen eryngo with twisted spiny leaves
naturalized on United States east coast; roots formerly
used as an aphrodisiac [syn: {sea holly}, {sea holm}, {sea
eryngium}, {Eryngium maritimum}]
Sea holly \Sea" hol"ly\ (Bot.)
An evergeen seashore plant ({Eryngium maritimum}). See
{Eryngium}.
[1913 Webster]
Eryngium \E*ryn"gi*um\ ([-e]*r[i^]n"j[i^]*[u^]m), n. [NL., fr.
Gr. 'hry`ggion, dim. of 'h`ryggos eryngo; cf. L. eryngion,
erynge.] (Bot.)
A large genus of umbelliferous plants somewhat like thistles
in appearance, cosmopolitan in distribution. {Eryngium
maritimum}, or sea holly, has been highly esteemed as an
aphrodisiac, the roots being formerly candied.
Syn: genus {Eryngium}.
[1913 Webster]