a biennial umbelliferous plant, Smyrnium olusatrum, native to S Europe, with dense umbels of yellow-green flowers and black fruits
2. golden alexanders
Word origin
Old English, from Medieval Latin alexandrum, probably (through association in folk etymology with Alexander the Great) changed from Latin holus atrum black vegetable
alexanders in American English
(ˌælɪɡˈzændərz, -ˈzɑːn-)
nounWord forms: plural-ders(used with a sing. or pl. v.)
1.
a tall plant, Angelica atropurpurea, of the parsley family, having broad clusters of small white flowers
2.
a related plant, Smyrnium olusatrum, having yellowish flowers
Word origin
[prob. ‹ F alexandre(s); cf. ME alisaundre (‹ OF), OE alexandre ‹ ML (petroselīnum) Alexandrīnum a name for Smyrnium olusatrum, and synonymous with ML petroselīnum Macedonicum, appar. through assoc. of Macedonia with Alexander the Great; cf. parsley]