asclepias

as·cle·pi·as

noun \ə-ˈsklē-pē-əs, a-\

Definition of ASCLEPIAS

1

capitalized : a genus (family Asclepiadaceae) of perennial herbs found chiefly in North America with flowers having a corona of five concave hoods each of which bears a slender horn—see butterfly weed, milkweed

2

: any plant of the genus Asclepias

3

: the dried root of the butterfly weed formerly used as a diaphoretic and expectorant—called also pleurisy root

Biographical Note for ASCLEPIAS

Aesculapius —see staff of aesculapius