What is "centaurea solstitialis"

Star \Star\ (st[aum]r), n. [OE. sterre, AS. steorra; akin to OFries. stera, OS. sterro, D. ster, OHG. sterno, sterro, G. stern, Icel. stjarna, Sw. stjerna, Dan. stierne, Goth. sta['i]rn[=o], Armor. & Corn. steren, L. stella, Gr. 'asth`r, 'a`stron, Skr. star; perhaps from a root meaning, to scatter, Skr. st[.r], L. sternere (cf. Stratum), and originally applied to the stars as being strewn over the sky, or as being scatterers or spreaders of light. [root]296. Cf. Aster, Asteroid, Constellation, Disaster, Stellar.]

1. One of the innumerable luminous bodies seen in the heavens; any heavenly body other than the sun, moon, comets, and nebul[ae].

   His eyen twinkled in his head aright, As do the stars in the frosty night.
   --Chaucer.

   Note: The stars are distinguished as planets, and fixed stars. See Planet, Fixed stars under Fixed, and Magnitude of a star under Magnitude.

2. The polestar; the north star.
   --Shak.

3. (Astrol.) A planet supposed to influence one's destiny; (usually pl.) a configuration of the planets, supposed to influence fortune.

   O malignant and ill-brooding stars.
   --Shak.

   Blesses his stars, and thinks it luxury.
   --Addison.

4. That which resembles the figure of a star, as an ornament worn on the breast to indicate rank or honor.

   On whom . . . Lavish Honor showered all her stars.
   --Tennyson.

5. Specifically, a radiated mark in writing or printing; an asterisk [thus, *]; -- used as a reference to a note, or to fill a blank where something is omitted, etc.

6. (Pyrotechny) A composition of combustible matter used in the heading of rockets, in mines, etc., which, exploding in the air, presents a starlike appearance.

7. A person of brilliant and attractive qualities, especially on public occasions, as a distinguished orator, a leading theatrical performer, etc. Note: Star is used in the formation of compound words generally of obvious signification; as, star-aspiring, star-bespangled, star-bestudded, star-blasting, star-bright, star-crowned, star-directed, star-eyed, star-headed, star-paved, star-roofed, star-sprinkled, star-wreathed. Blazing star, Double star, Multiple star, Shooting star, etc. See under Blazing, Double, etc. Nebulous star (Astron.), a small well-defined circular nebula, having a bright nucleus at its center like a star. Star anise (Bot.), any plant of the genus Illicium; -- so called from its star-shaped capsules. Star apple (Bot.), a tropical American tree ( Chrysophyllum Cainito), having a milky juice and oblong leaves with a silky-golden pubescence beneath. It bears an applelike fruit, the carpels of which present a starlike figure when cut across. The name is extended to the whole genus of about sixty species, and the natural order ( Sapotace[ae]) to which it belongs is called the Star-apple family. Star conner, one who cons, or studies, the stars; an astronomer or an astrologer. --Gascoigne. Star coral (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of stony corals belonging to Astr[ae]a, Orbicella, and allied genera, in which the calicles are round or polygonal and contain conspicuous radiating septa. Star cucumber. (Bot.) See under Cucumber. Star flower. (Bot.)

   1. A plant of the genus Ornithogalum; star-of-Bethlehem.

   2. See Starwort (b) .

   3. An American plant of the genus Trientalis ( Trientalis Americana). --Gray. Star fort (Fort.), a fort surrounded on the exterior with projecting angles; -- whence the name. Star gauge (Ordnance), a long rod, with adjustable points projecting radially at its end, for measuring the size of different parts of the bore of a gun. Star grass. (Bot.)

      1. A small grasslike plant ( Hypoxis erecta) having star-shaped yellow flowers.

      2. The colicroot. See Colicroot.

         Star hyacinth (Bot.), a bulbous plant of the genus Scilla ( S. autumnalis); -- called also star-headed hyacinth.

         Star jelly (Bot.), any one of several gelatinous plants ( Nostoc commune, N. edule, etc.). See Nostoc.

         Star lizard. (Zo["o]l.) Same as Stellion.

         Star-of-Bethlehem (Bot.), a bulbous liliaceous plant ( Ornithogalum umbellatum) having a small white starlike flower.

         Star-of-the-earth (Bot.), a plant of the genus P ( Plantago coronopus), growing upon the seashore.

         Star polygon (Geom.), a polygon whose sides cut each other so as to form a star-shaped figure.

         Stars and Stripes, a popular name for the flag of the United States, which consists of thirteen horizontal stripes, alternately red and white, and a union having, in a blue field, white stars to represent the several States, one for each.

         With the old flag, the true American flag, the Eagle, and the Stars and Stripes, waving over the chamber in which we sit.
         --D. Webster.

         Star showers. See Shooting star, under Shooting.

         Star thistle (Bot.), an annual composite plant ( Centaurea solstitialis) having the involucre armed with stout radiating spines.

         Star wheel (Mach.), a star-shaped disk, used as a kind of ratchet wheel, in repeating watches and the feed motions of some machines.

         Star worm (Zo["o]l.), a gephyrean.

         Temporary star (Astron.), a star which appears suddenly, shines for a period, and then nearly or quite disappears. These stars were supposed by some astronomers to be variable stars of long and undetermined periods. More recently, variations star in start intensity are classified more specifically, and this term is now obsolescent. See also nova. [Obsolescent]

         Variable star (Astron.), a star whose brilliancy varies periodically, generally with regularity, but sometimes irregularly; -- called periodical star when its changes occur at fixed periods.

         Water star grass (Bot.), an aquatic plant ( Schollera graminea) with small yellow starlike blossoms.

Saint \Saint\ (s[=a]nt), n. [F., fr. L. sanctus sacred, properly p. p. of sancire to render sacred by a religious act, to appoint as sacred; akin to sacer sacred. Cf. Sacred, Sanctity, Sanctum, Sanctus.]

1. A person sanctified; a holy or godly person; one eminent for piety and virtue; any true Christian, as being redeemed and consecrated to God.

   Them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints.
   --1 Cor. i.

2. 2. One of the blessed in heaven.

   Then shall thy saints, unmixed, and from the impure Far separate, circling thy holy mount, Unfeigned hallelujahs to thee sing.
   --Milton.

3. (Eccl.) One canonized by the church. [Abbrev. St.] Saint Andrew's cross.

   1. A cross shaped like the letter X. See Illust. 4, under Cross.

   2. (Bot.) A low North American shrub ( Ascyrum Crux-Andre[ae], the petals of which have the form of a Saint Andrew's cross.
      --Gray.

      Saint Anthony's cross, a T-shaped cross. See Illust. 6, under Cross.

      Saint Anthony's fire, the erysipelas; -- popularly so called because it was supposed to have been cured by the intercession of Saint Anthony.

      Saint Anthony's nut (Bot.), the groundnut ( Bunium flexuosum); -- so called because swine feed on it, and St. Anthony was once a swineherd.
      --Dr. Prior.

      Saint Anthony's turnip (Bot.), the bulbous crowfoot, a favorite food of swine.
      --Dr. Prior.

      Saint Barnaby's thistle (Bot.), a kind of knapweed ( Centaurea solstitialis) flowering on St. Barnabas's Day, June 11th.
      --Dr. Prior.

      Saint Bernard (Zo["o]l.), a breed of large, handsome dogs celebrated for strength and sagacity, formerly bred chiefly at the Hospice of St. Bernard in Switzerland, but now common in Europe and America. There are two races, the smooth-haired and the rough-haired. See Illust. under Dog.

      Saint Catharine's flower (Bot.), the plant love-in-a-mist. See under Love.

      Saint Cuthbert's beads (Paleon.), the fossil joints of crinoid stems.

      Saint Dabeoc's heath (Bot.), a heatherlike plant ( Dab[oe]cia polifolia), named from an Irish saint.

      Saint Distaff's Day. See under Distaff.

      Saint Elmo's fire, a luminous, flamelike appearance, sometimes seen in dark, tempestuous nights, at some prominent point on a ship, particularly at the masthead and the yardarms. It has also been observed on land, and is due to the discharge of electricity from elevated or pointed objects. A single flame is called a Helena, or a Corposant; a double, or twin, flame is called a Castor and Pollux, or a double Corposant. It takes its name from St. Elmo, the patron saint of sailors.

      Saint George's cross (Her.), a Greek cross gules upon a field argent, the field being represented by a narrow fimbriation in the ensign, or union jack, of Great Britain.

      Saint George's ensign, a red cross on a white field with a union jack in the upper corner next the mast. It is the distinguishing badge of ships of the royal navy of England; -- called also the white ensign.
      --Brande & C.

      Saint George's flag, a smaller flag resembling the ensign, but without the union jack; used as the sign of the presence and command of an admiral. [Eng.]
      --Brande & C.

      Saint Gobain glass (Chem.), a fine variety of soda-lime plate glass, so called from St. Gobain in France, where it was manufactured.

      Saint Ignatius's bean (Bot.), the seed of a tree of the Philippines ( Strychnos Ignatia), of properties similar to the nux vomica.

      Saint James's shell (Zo["o]l.), a pecten ( Vola Jacob[ae]us) worn by pilgrims to the Holy Land. See Illust. under Scallop.

      Saint James's-wort (Bot.), a kind of ragwort ( Senecio Jacob[ae]a).

      Saint John's bread. (Bot.) See Carob.

      Saint John's-wort (Bot.), any plant of the genus Hypericum, most species of which have yellow flowers; -- called also John's-wort.

      Saint Leger, the name of a race for three-year-old horses run annually in September at Doncaster, England; -- instituted in 1776 by Col. St. Leger.

      Saint Martin's herb (Bot.), a small tropical American violaceous plant ( Sauvagesia erecta). It is very mucilaginous and is used in medicine.

      Saint Martin's summer, a season of mild, damp weather frequently prevailing during late autumn in England and the Mediterranean countries; -- so called from St. Martin's Festival, occurring on November 11. It corresponds to the Indian summer in America.
      --Shak.
      --Whittier.

      Saint Patrick's cross. See Illust. 4, under Cross.

      Saint Patrick's Day, the 17th of March, anniversary of the death (about 466) of St. Patrick, the apostle and patron saint of Ireland.

      Saint Peter's fish. (Zo["o]l.) See John Dory, under John.

      Saint Peter's-wort (Bot.), a name of several plants, as Hypericum Ascyron, H. quadrangulum, Ascyrum stans, etc.

      Saint Peter's wreath (Bot.), a shrubby kind of Spir[ae]a ( S. hypericifolia), having long slender branches covered with clusters of small white blossoms in spring.

      Saint's bell. See Sanctus bell, under Sanctus.

      Saint Vitus's dance (Med.), chorea; -- so called from the supposed cures wrought on intercession to this saint.

Centaurea solstitialis, yellow star-thistle, is a member of the family Asteraceae, native to the Mediterranean Basin region. The plant is also known as golden starthistle, yellow cockspur and St. Barnaby's thistle (or Barnaby thistle) The plant is a thorny winter annual species in the knapweed genus.