Tetterwort (Noun)
Meaning
Perennial woodland native of North America having a red root and red sap and bearing a solitary lobed leaf and white flower in early spring and having acrid emetic properties; rootstock used as a stimulant and expectorant.
Classification
Nouns denoting plants.
Examples
- Tetterwort, a rare woodland perennial, blooms briefly in early spring with small white flowers that appear delicate and ephemeral.
- Botanists interested in studying North American woodland plants often make note of tetterwort for its unique root and sap coloration.
- As an expectorant and stimulant, dried tetterwort root has been used for centuries in herbal medicine, but it is known for its potent acrid taste.
- When treating tetterwort rootstock, one must exercise caution, given the strong medicinal properties it possesses, especially for young or vulnerable patients.
- Herbalists categorize tetterwort among those perennials with practical medicinal applications derived from both the roots and leaves, especially those utilized for local use in historical communities.