populus balsamifera

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

Populus balsamifera
    n 1: poplar of northeastern North America with broad heart-
         shaped leaves [syn: {balsam poplar}, {hackmatack},
         {tacamahac}, {Populus balsamifera}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Poplar \Pop"lar\, n. [OE. popler, OF. poplier, F. peuplier, fr.
   L. populus poplar.] (Bot.)
   1. Any tree of the genus {Populus}; also, the timber, which
      is soft, and capable of many uses.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: The aspen poplar is {Populus tremula} and {Populus
         tremuloides}; Balsam poplar is {Populus balsamifera};
         Lombardy poplar ({Populus dilatata}) is a tall, spiry
         tree; white poplar is {Populus alba}.
         [1913 Webster]

   2. The timber of the tulip tree; -- called also {white
      poplar}. [U.S.]
      [1913 Webster]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Tacamahac \Tac"a*ma*hac`\, Tacamahaca \Tac`a*ma*ha"ca\, n.
   1. A bitter balsamic resin obtained from tropical American
      trees of the genus {Elaphrium} ({Elaphrium tomentosum} and
      {Elaphrium Tacamahaca}), and also from East Indian trees
      of the genus {Calophyllum}; also, the resinous exhudation
      of the balsam poplar.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Bot.) Any tree yielding tacamahac resin, especially, in
      North America, the balsam poplar, or balm of Gilead
      ({Populus balsamifera}).
      [1913 Webster]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Balm \Balm\ (b[aum]m), n. [OE. baume, OF. bausme, basme, F.
   baume, L. balsamum balsam, from Gr. ba`lsamon; perhaps of
   Semitic origin; cf. Heb. b[=a]s[=a]m. Cf. {Balsam}.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. (Bot.) An aromatic plant of the genus {Melissa}.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. The resinous and aromatic exudation of certain trees or
      shrubs. --Dryden.
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   3. Any fragrant ointment. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. Anything that heals or that mitigates pain. "Balm for each
      ill." --Mrs. Hemans.
      [1913 Webster]

   {Balm cricket} (Zool.), the European cicada. --Tennyson.

   {Balm of Gilead} (Bot.), a small evergreen African and
      Asiatic tree of the terebinthine family ({Balsamodendron
      Gileadense}). Its leaves yield, when bruised, a strong
      aromatic scent; and from this tree is obtained the balm of
      Gilead of the shops, or balsam of Mecca. This has a
      yellowish or greenish color, a warm, bitterish, aromatic
      taste, and a fragrant smell. It is valued as an unguent
      and cosmetic by the Turks. The fragrant herb
      {Dracocephalum Canariense} is familiarly called balm of
      Gilead, and so are the American trees, {Populus
      balsamifera}, variety candicans (balsam poplar), and
      {Abies balsamea} (balsam fir).
      [1913 Webster]