lady's tobacco
Học thuậtThân thiện
A gardener carefully transplants a lady's tobacco plant into a sunny flower bed.
Definition
Noun 1. A North American perennial plant: A specific type of flowering plant (Antennaria plantaginifolia), also commonly known as "plantain-leaved pussytoes" or "woman's tobacco." It is characterized by its propagation through runners (stolons) and its soft, woolly leaves which historically were sometimes used as a tobacco substitute.
Usage Notes
- "Lady's tobacco" is a compound noun that functions as the common name for this specific plant species. It is typically used in botanical, horticultural, or naturalist contexts.
- It is often written with an apostrophe-s ('s) as shown.
- As a proper common name, it is not typically pluralized (e.g., "a patch of lady's tobacco").
Examples
- Noun:
- We identified several native species in the meadow, including lady's tobacco.
- The soft, gray leaves of lady's tobacco form dense mats on the forest floor.
- This field guide mentions that lady's tobacco spreads primarily by runners.
Advanced Usage
- The name is part of a historical folk tradition, referencing the practice of using the dried leaves as a mild substitute for tobacco, particularly by women.
Variants and Related Words
- Plantain-leaved pussytoes: Another common name for the same plant ().
- Woman's tobacco: A direct synonym for "lady's tobacco."
- Antennaria: The botanical genus name for pussytoes, which includes lady's tobacco.
- Pussytoes: The common name for the genus , referring to the soft, fuzzy flower heads.
Synonyms
- Plantain-leaved pussytoes
- Woman's tobacco
Related Terms (Contextual)
- Perennial: A plant that lives for more than two years.
- Runner (stolon): A horizontal stem that grows along the ground and can take root to form a new plant.
- Herbaceous: Referring to plants with non-woody stems.
A gardener carefully transplants a lady's tobacco plant into a sunny flower bed.
Noun
- North American perennial propagated by means of runners