Birth·root n. Bot. An herbaceous plant (Trillium erectum), and its astringent rootstock, which is said to have medicinal properties.
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  Trillium erectum
       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, birthroot]