spleenwort
(ˈspliːnwɜːt)
Also 6 splen(e)-, spleenewort, spleen-, 6–7 spleenewoort.
[f. spleen n., after L. splēnion or asplēnon, a. Gr. σπληνίον, ἄσπληνον (also ἀσπλήνιος, -ον adj.), f. σπλήν spleen.]
1. a. One or other of various ferns belonging to the genus Asplenium; also, the genus itself.
| 1578 Lyte Dodoens iii. lxv. 406 Of brode or large Splene⁓wort or Miltwast. 1597 Gerarde Herbal ii. cccclv. 979 Called..in English Spleenwoort, Miltwaste, Scale Ferne, and Stone Ferne. 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts 616 Spleen⁓wort giuen vnto sheep..is the best remedy for this Malady. 1688 Holme Armoury ii. 97/2 Spleenwort, hath divers stalks of leaves. 1711 Pope Rape Lock iv. 56 Safe past the Gnome thro' this fantastic band, A branch of healing Spleenwort in his hand. 1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. App., Spleen-wort,..called..in English more commonly milt⁓waste. 1862 Ansted Channel Isl. 183 The varieties of Asplenium or spleenwort are very numerous and beautiful. 1885 Gerard Waters of Hercules viii, Between the stones..the maidenhair and spleenwort were beginning to peep. |
| pl. 1859 T. Moore Brit. Ferns (1864) 59 The Spleenworts are called Asplenium by botanists. |
† b. Hart's-tongue; scolopendrium. Obs.
| 1725 Fam. Dict. s.v. Jaundice, Boil therein an Handful of the Roots of Smallage..and wild Succory, with as much Harts-tongue or Spleenwort. 1796 Withering Brit. Pl. (ed. 3) III. 766 Asplenium scolopendrium. Spleenwort or Harts-tongue. |
c. With various distinguishing terms.
The number of varieties thus distinguished is very large: see also maidenhair 6 and sea 23 f.
| 1796 Withering Brit. Pl. (ed. 3) III. 768 Asplenium viride. Green-ribbed Spleenwort. Ibid. 770 A. lanceolatum. Spear-shaped Spleenwort. 1801 C. Smith Lett. Solit. Wand. II. 92 Having found here the white spleenwort in fructification. 1845–50 A. H. Lincoln Lect. Bot. App. 78/2 Asplenium ebenum (ebony spleen-wort). 1846–50 A. Wood Class-bk. Bot. 630 Swamp Spleenwort... Dwarf Spleenwort. Ibid. 631 Silvery Spleenwort. 1847 H. Miller Test. Rocks (1857) 30 The minute forked spleenwort of Arthur Seat. 1802 Ansted Channel Isl. ii. viii. 183 Black spleenwort is as common in the islands as in England. 1865 Gosse Land & Sea (1874) 333 Here the Marine Spleenwort grows out of the vertical fissures. |
† 2. rough spleenwort, a former name for various ferns (see quots.). Obs.
| 1597 Gerarde Herbal ii. cccclv. 978 Lonchitis aspera, Rough Spleenewort. 1600 Surflet Countrie Farme ii. xlii. 262 Scolopendrium, or rough spleene-woort, called also harts-toongue. 1633 Gerarde's Herbal ii. cccclxxi. 1140 Lonchitis aspera maior. Great rough Spleene-woort. 1760 J. Lee Introd. Bot. App. 328 Spleen-wort, Rough, Lonchitis. Ibid., Spleenwort, Rough, Polypodium. 1777 Jacob Catal. Plants 61 Osmunda Spicant, Rough Spleenwort. 1785 Martyn Lett. Bot. xxxii. (1794) 489 Rough Spleenwort [note, Osmunda Spicant] has lanceolate, pinnatifid fronds. |
† 3. A pteroid fern, Lonchitis. Obs.
By some early botanists confused with Asplenium.
| 1579 Langham Gard. Health 616 Splenwort, or Lonchitis, is very good against the hardnes, stopping, and swelling of the milt. 1597 Gerarde Herbal 979 Lonchitis Maranthæ, Bastard Spleenewort. 1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl., Lonchitis, spleenwort,..the name of a genus of plants. |
4. U.S. A species of cactus.
| 1846–50 A. Wood Class-bk. Bot. 275 Cereus Phyllanthus...Spleenwort... Flowers white. |
5. Comb., as spleenwort-leaved, spleenwort-like adjs.
| 1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. s.v. Filix, The spleenwort leaved..Portugal fern. Ibid., The spleenwort like..African fern. 1786 Abercrombie Arr. in Gard. Assist. 30 Liquid⁓ambar,..Spleenwort-leaved. 1841 Penny Cycl. XXI. 229/2 Senecio hastatus, the spleenwort-leaved groundsel. |