Definition

Noun 1. A strongly scented herb: A specific plant species (Polanisia graveolens) characterized by a powerful odor, common in the southern United States. Its stems and leaves are covered with a mixture of glands and hairs.

Usage Notes

• This is a scientific or botanical term for a specific plant. In everyday conversation, people are more likely to use its common name, "clammyweed."
• It is used as a singular, countable noun (e.g., ).

Examples

• Noun:
  • The field guide noted that Polanisia graveolens thrives in sandy soils.
  • Botanists study the unique glandular hairs of Polanisia graveolens.

Advanced Usage

• The name follows binomial nomenclature (Genus , species ). The species epithet "" is Latin for "strong-smelling" or "heavy-scented," directly describing the plant's key characteristic.

Variants and Related Words

• Clammyweed (n): The most common English name for this plant, referring to the sticky or clammy feel of its gland-covered surface.
• Polanisia (n): The genus name, which can refer to any plant within this group.

Synonyms

• Clammyweed (n): The primary common name synonym.
• Stinking clover (n): A regional common name, also referencing its odor.

Noun

1. strong-scented herb common in southern United States covered with intermixed gland and hairs