ˈrose-root Bot.
[f. rose n. + root n.]
1. One of certain related herbaceous plants, esp. Sedum rhodiola or Rhodiola rosea, growing in rocky districts or on cliffs, the root of which emits a rose-like fragrance when bruised or dried; = rosewort 1.
| 1597 Gerarde Herball 416 Doubtlesse it tooke his name Rhodia radix, of the roote, which smelleth like a Rose: in English Rose roote, and Rose woort. 1611 Cotgr., Racine sentant la rose, Rosewort, Roseroot; an hearb. 1786 Abercrombie Gard. Assist., Arr. 65 Rhodiola rosea, or rose root. 1806 [see rosewort 1]. 1858 Kingsley Misc. I. 164 Sea-green rose-root, with its strange fleshy stems and leaves, which mark..the beginning of the Alpine world. |
| attrib. 1855 Miss Pratt Flower. Pl. II. 327 Sedum Rhodiola, Rose-root Stone Crop. |
† 2. = orpine 2. (
Cf. rosewort 2.)
Obs.| 1731 Miller Gard. Dict. s.v. Anacampseros, Telephium, or Rhodia Radix; in English, Orpine, Live-ever, or Rose-root. 1753 Chambers' Cycl. Suppl. App., Rose-root, a name by which some call the Anacampseros or Orpin. |