What is "birthroot"

Birthroot \Birth"root`\, n. (Bot.) An herbaceous plant ( Trillium erectum), and its astringent rootstock, which is said to have medicinal properties.

n. (taxlink Trillium erectum species noshow=1), a perennial plant of North America with deep-red flowers.

n. trillium of eastern North America having malodorous pink to purple flowers and an astringent root used in fold medicine especially to ease childbirth [syn: purple trillium, red trillium, Trillium erectum]