fig-wort

A gardener carefully tends to a fig-wort plant in her herb garden.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A plant of the genus Scrophularia: "fig-wort" refers to any of various plants belonging to the genus Scrophularia, in the family Scrophulariaceae, typically having small, tubular flowers and opposite leaves. The name is derived from the historical belief that the plant could treat hemorrhoids (figs being an old term for such swellings).

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The fig-wort in the garden has small, brownish-purple flowers that attract bees. (A plant of the genus Scrophularia growing in a garden.)
  • Traditional herbalists once used fig-wort to treat skin conditions. (The plant was historically used for medicinal purposes.)

Advanced Usage

• "to resemble fig-wort": to describe a plant that looks similar to species of Scrophularia.

  • The wildflower you found closely resembles fig-wort, but it has larger leaves. (The flower is similar in appearance to the fig-wort plant.)

• "fig-wort family": a common name for the plant family Scrophulariaceae.

  • Snapdragons and foxgloves belong to the fig-wort family. (These plants are classified in the same botanical family.)

Variants and Related Words

• Figwort (n): an alternative spelling of "fig-wort," referring to the same plant genus.
  • The common figwort is often found in damp, shady areas. (A specific species of Scrophularia.)

Synonyms

• Scrophularia: the scientific genus name for fig-wort plants.
• Carpenter's square: a common name for some species of due to the square shape of their stems.

Related Idioms

• No idioms: The word "fig-wort" is primarily a botanical term and does not appear in common idioms or figurative expressions.