What is "turnsol"

Turnsole \Turn"sole`\, n. [F. tournesol, It. tornasole; tornare to turn (LL. tornare) + sole the sun, L. sol. See Turn, Solar, a., and cf. Heliotrope.] [Written also turnsol.]

1. (Bot.)

   1. A plant of the genus Heliotropium; heliotrope; -- so named because its flowers are supposed to turn toward the sun.

   2. The sunflower.

   3. A kind of spurge ( Euphorbia Helioscopia).

   4. The euphorbiaceous plant Chrozophora tinctoria.

2. (Chem.)

   1. Litmus. [Obs.]

   2. A purple dye obtained from the plant turnsole. See def. 1 (d) .

n. (alternative form of turnsole English)