silphium

sil·phi·um

S5441750 (sĭl′fē-əm)n.1. An extinct North African plant, often classified in the genus Ferula, that produced a resin that was a popular seasoning in ancient Greece and Rome. It became extinct in antiquity, probably from overharvesting and overgrazing.2. A plant of the genus Silphium, such as the compass plant.

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[Latin, from Greek silphion, perhaps of North African origin.]

silphium

(ˈsɪlfɪəm) n (Plants) an American flowering wild plant of the family Asteraceae

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

Silphium - tall North American perennial herbsgenus Silphiumasterid dicot genus - genus of more or less advanced dicotyledonous herbs and some trees and shrubsaster family, Asteraceae, Compositae, family Asteraceae, family Compositae - plants with heads composed of many florets: aster; daisy; dandelion; goldenrod; marigold; lettuces; ragweed; sunflower; thistle; zinniarosinweed, Silphium laciniatum - North American perennial having a resinous odor and yellow flowers