silphium
nounDefinition of silphium
1 plural silphia\-ēə\ : an extinct umbelliferous plant of the genus Ferula not definitely identifiable as to species but well known to the ancient Greeks and used by them medicinally
2 capitalized [ New Latin, from Latin ] : a large genus of tall North American perennial herbs (family Compositae) having coarse heads of yellow flowers with fertile rays and broad flat winged achenes — see cup plant
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