seneca snakeroot

noun

: a milkwort (Polygala senega) of eastern North America having racemes of small white flowers

called also rattlesnake root, senega root

compare senega

Illustration of seneca snakeroot

Word History

First Known Use

1739, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

seneca snakeroot

noun

sen·​e·​ca snakeroot ˈsen-i-kə- 

: a North American plant of the genus Polygala (P. senega) whose dried root was formerly used as an expectorant