What is "frostweed"

Frostweed \Frost"weed`\, n. (Bot.) An American species of rockrose ( Helianthemum Canadense), sometimes used in medicine as an astringent or aromatic tonic.

Note: It has large yellow flowers which are often sterile, and later it has abundant but inconspicuous flowers which bear seed. It is so called because, late in autumn, crystals of ice shoot from the cracked bark at the root; -- called also frostwort.

n. (context botany English) An American species of (vern: rock rose), (taxlink Helianthemum canadense species noshow=1), with large yellow flowers.

1. n. perennial of the eastern United States having early solitary yellow flowers followed by late petalless flowers; so-called because ice crystals form on it during first frosts [syn: frost-weed, frostwort, Helianthemum canadense, Crocanthemum canadensei]

2. tall perennial herb having clusters of white flowers; the eastern United States [syn: Virginia crownbeard, frost-weed, Verbesina virginica]

Frostweed is a common name for several plants and may refer to:

• Helianthemum, in the Cistaceae family
• Verbesina virginica in the Asteraceae family