stonewort
(ˈstəʊnwɜːt)
[f. stone n. + wort. Cf. G. steinwurz.]
Name for several different plants.
† 1. The fern Asplenium Ceterach, also called stone fern (stone n. 20 c). Obs.
| 1585 Higins Junius' Nomencl. 135/1 Scolopendrium, calcifraga,..fingerferne: ceterach or stonewoort. 1647 Hexham i. (Herbs), Fingerferne, or stone-wort, Steen-varen. |
2. With defining words, applied to species of Sison and other umbelliferous plants. (Cf. stone-parsley.)
| 1796 Withering Brit. Plants (ed. 3) II. 300 Sison Amomum... Bastard Stone Parlsey. Hedge Stonewort. Ibid., [S.] segetum... Corn Parsley, or Stonewort. 1799 J. Hull Brit. Flora i. 62 Sison inundatum... Water Stonewort. Ibid., Sison verticillatum,..Verticillate Stonewort. 1865 Sowerby's Eng. Bot. (ed. 3) IV. 107 Sison Amomum... Hedge Stonewort. Ibid. 108 Trinia vulgaris... Glabrous Stonewort. |
3. A book-name for the genus Chara, from the calcareous deposits on the stem; also extended to the N.O. Characeæ.
| 1816 T. Green Univ. Herbal I. 285 Chara Tomentosa; Brittle Chara, or Stonewort. Ibid., Chara Vulgaris; Common or Stinking Chara, or Stonewort. Ibid., Chara Flexilis; Smooth Chara, or Stonewort. 1854 A. Adams etc. Man. Nat. Hist. 535 Stone-worts (Characeæ). 1875 Huxley & Martin Elem. Biol. 42 Stoneworts (Chara and Nitella). |