spikenard

Meaning

Noun

• A perfumed ointment, extracted from the plant Nardostachys jatamansi that belongs to the Valerian family and grows in the Himalayas.
• The plant Nardostachys jatamansi (syn. Nardostachys grandiflora (species)).
• Lavandula stoechas (species), another species used in antiquity to produce an aromatic oil.
• Any plant of the genus Aralia of the Araliaceae family.
• false spikenard (Maianthemum racemosum (species), syn. Smilacina racemosa (species))
• Ploughman's spikenard (Inula conyza (species), now Pentanema conyzae (species)).
• wild spikenard (Asarum europaeum).

Origin

• From Middle English, from Anglo-Norman spicanarde, from Medieval Latin spīca nardī, from Latin spica + nardi. Equivalent to spike + nard.