- A thorny shrub yielding a fragrant oil. - A genus of plants of the natural order Leguminosae. The
species are chiefly natives of the Cape of Good Hope.
- Himalayan plant - An aromatic plant. In the United States it is the Aralia
racemosa, often called spignet, and used as a medicine. The spikenard
of the ancients is the Nardostachys Jatamansi, a native of the
Himalayan region. From its blackish roots a perfume for the hair is
still prepared in India. - A fragrant essential oil, as that from the Nardostachys
Jatamansi.
- A thin, fragrant, colorless oil, HO.C6H4.CHO, found in
the flowers of meadow sweet (Spiraea), and also obtained by oxidation
of salicin, saligenin, etc. It reddens on exposure. Called also
salicylol, salicylic aldehyde, and formerly salicylous, / spiroylous,
acid.
- A genus of herbs (Anthemis) of the Composite family. The
common camomile, A. nobilis, is used as a popular remedy. Its flowers
have a strong and fragrant and a bitter, aromatic taste. They are
tonic, febrifugal, and in large doses emetic, and the volatile oil is
carminative. - See Camomile.