wort

This is an alphabetical listing of wort plants, meaning plants that employ the syllable wort in their English-language common names.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary's Ask Oxford site, "A word with the suffix -wort is often very old. The Old English word was wyrt, from German origins that connect it to root. It was often used in the names of herbs and plants that had medicinal uses, the first part of the word denoting the complaint against which it might be specially efficacious...By the middle of the 17th-century -wort was beginning to fade from everyday use.^[1]

The Naturalist Newsletter states, "Wort derives from the Old English wyrt, which simply meant plant. The word goes back even further, to the common ancestor of English and German, to the Germanic wurtiz. By the way, wurtiz evolved into the modern German word Wurzel, meaning root."^[2]

Wort plants

Adderwort, Adder's wort - Polygonum bistorta. Snakeweed.

American lungwort - Mertensia virginica.

Asterwort - Any composite plant of the family Asteraceae.

Awlwort - Subularia aquatica. The plant bears awl-shaped leaves.

Banewort - A poisonous plant of the crowfoot family, Ranunculaceae.

Barrenwort - Epimedium alpinum.

Bellwort - Uvularia or Campanulaceae.

Birthwort - Aristolochia. Also, birthroot (Trillium erectum).

Birthwort - Aristolochiaceae, the birthwort family.

Bishop's wort - The wood (betony). Also, fennel flower.

Bitterwort - Gentiana lutea.

Bladderwort - Utricularia (aquatic plants).

Blawort - A flower, commonly called harebell. Also, a certain plant bearing blue flowers.

Bloodwort - Sanguinaria Canadensis, a member of Papaveraceae, as are poppies. Produces escharotic alkaloids that corrode skin, leaving wounds. Also: redroot, bloodroot, or tetterwort.

Blue Navelwort - A species of the genus Omphalodes.

Blue Throatwort - Trachelium coeruleum.

Blushwort - A member of the gentian family. Shame flower.

Bogwort - The bilberry or whortleberry.

Boragewort - Any plant of the borage family, Boraginaceae.

Bridewort - Filipendula ulmaria. The common meadowsweet.

Brimstonewort - Same as sulphurwort.

Brotherwort - Wild thyme.

Brownwort - Scrophularia vernalis. Yellow figwort.

Bruisewort - Any plant considered to be useful in treating bruises, as herb Margaret.

Bullwort - Ammi majus. Bishop's wood.

Bullock's or Cow's Lungwort - Verbascum thapsus, the common Mullein.

Burstwort - Herniaria glabra. Formerly used to treat rupture.

Butterwort - Pinguicula vulgaris.

Cancerwort - Linaria vulgaris. Toadflax.

Catwort - A plant of the genus Nepeta. Catnip.

Clown's Ringwort - plant featured in the 1605 panel of the New World Tapestry.

Colewort - Brassica oleracea. Cabbage.

Coralwort - Tooth violet.

Crosswort - Eupatorium perfoliatum. Lysimachia quadrifolia. Boneset. Also, maywort, a species of Galium.

Damewort - Hesperis matronalis. Dame's violet or damask violet or rocket.

Danewort - Sambucus ebulus. The dwarf elder. Also, daneweed.

Dragonwort - An Artemisia, or Polygonum bistorta.

Dropwort - Filipendula vulgaris. A European herb.

Dungwort - Helleborus foetidus. Stinking hellebore.

Ebony spleenwort - Fern.

Elderwort - Danewort.

European Pillwort - Pilularia globulifera. Peppergrass.

Felonwort - Solanum dulcamara. Felonwood or bittersweet.

Feltwort - Obsolete name for the Mullein.

Felwort - A common name for various species of gentian.

Feverwort - Horse gentian.

Figwort - Some plants in the family Scrophulariaceae, including Euphrasia officinalis (eyebright); Veronica officinalis (speedwell or fluellen); Veronica anagullis (water speedwell); Gratiola officinalis (herb of grace) (hedge hyssop); Herpestis monniera (water hyssop); Scoparia dulcis (sweet broomweed), or Ilysanthes riparia (false pimpernel).

Fleawort - A plantain.

Flukewort - Hydrocotyle vulgaris.

French or golden lungwort - Hieracium murorum.

Frostwort - Helianthemum canadenes. Frostweed or rockrose.

Fumewort - Genus Corydalis.

Galewort - Myrica gale. Sweet gale.

Garlicwort - Alliaria officinalis. The hedge garlic.

Gentianwort - Any plant of the family Gentianaceae.

German Madwort - Asperugo procumbens.

Gutwort - Globularia alypum. Used as a purgative.

Gipsywort - Any plant of the genus Lycopus, as Lycopus europaeus. Gipsy herb.

Glasswort - Frog grass. Also, a seaweed yielding kelp.

Golden ragwort - Senecio aureus. Squawweed.

Goutwort - Aegopodium podagraria. Acheweed; Herb Gerard; Goat's foot; Bishop weed; Goutweed.

Greater Spearwort - Ranunculus lingua.

Hammerwort - Parietaria officinalis. The plant pellitory.

Hartwort - Any of certain plants of the genera Seseli, Tordylium, and Bupleurum.

Heathwort - Any plant of the genus Erica, the heath family.

Hemlock Dropwort - Oenanthe fistulosa. A plant of the parsley family, Apiaceae or Umbelliferae.

Hillwort - Wild thyme, or Mentha pulegium, a kind of pennyroyal.

Hogwort - Croton capitatus. J.K. Rowling named Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry after this plant (although she misspelled it).

Holewort - Hollowwort. Corydalis cava.

Honewort - A plant used as a remedy for hone.

Honeywort - A bee plant of the genus Cerinthe.

Hoodwort - Scutellaria lateriflora. Also called skullcap and madweed.

Hornwort - Ceratophyllum demersum.

Ironwort - A plant of the genus Sideritis.

Kelpwort - Macrocystis pyrifera, a kind of glasswort.

Kidneywort - Cotyledon umbilicus. Also called pennywort and navelwort.

Knotwort - Any plant of the genus Illecebrum.

Laserwort - Any plant of the genus Laserpitium.

Lazarwort - Laserwort.

Leadwort - Any plant of the genus Plumbago.

Lesser Spearwort - Ranunculus flammula. Banewort.

Lichwort - The wall pellitory, Parietaria officinalis.

Lilywort - A plant of the genus Funkia. Day lily. Also, any plant of the genus Liliaceae.

Liverwort - Any species of Marchantiophyta, a division of non-vascular plants (a type of bryophyte). Also, plants that resemble the liverworts; as, liverleaf (Hepatica).

Lousewort - Pedicularis canadensis. Cockscomb; head betony; wood betony (herb Christopher). Any plant of the genus Pedicularis, as Pedicularis palustris (rattle).

Lungwort - A plant of the genus Mertensia, the lungworts. Also, a boraginaceous plant of the genus Pulmonaria.

Lustwort - Any plant of the genus Drosera; the sundew.

Madderwort - Any plant of the madder family, Rubiaceae.

Madwort - Alyssum saxitile. Gold-dust.

Maidenhair spleenwort - Asplenium trichomanes

Mallowwort - Any plant of the mallow family, Malvaceae.

Marsh Pennywort - Hydrocotyle vulgaris.

Marsh St.-John's-wort - Elodes virginica.

Marshwort - Vaccinium Oxycoccus, the creeping cranberry. Also, a European umbelliferous plant.

Masterwort - Peucedanum (formerly Imperatoria) Ostruthium or Astrantia major. Also, in the United States, Heracleum lanatum, the cow parsnip.

Maudlinwort - Leucanthemum vulgare.

Maywort - Bedstraw or mugweed. A species of Galium. Also, crosswort, Lysimachia quadrifolia.

Meadowwort - A variety of meadowsweet.

Milkwort - Polygalaceae, the milkwort family, one of which yields buaze. Polygala vulgaris is the milkwort of Europe.

Miterwort - Bishop's cap. Any plant of the genus Mitella.

Moneywort - Loosestrife. Herb twopence, an evergreen trailing plant. A popular name for various plants of the genus Lysimachia, especially Lysimachia nummularia, of the primrose family, Primulaceae.

Moonwort - Honesty, a herb of the genus Lunaria. Also, any fern of the genus Botrychium.

Motherwort - A herb, Leonurus cardiaca, of the mint family, Lamiaceae. Also, mugwort.

Mountain spiderwort - Lloydia serotina.

Mudwort - Limosella aquatica, found growing in muddy places.

Mugwort - Artemisia vulgaris.

Mulewort - Any plant of the genus Hemionitis.

Nailwort - Any species of Paronychia. Also Draba verna, Saxifraga tridactylites.

Navelwort - A succulent plant of the genus Cotyledon.

Nettlewort - Any plant of the nettle family, Urticaceae.

Nipplewort - Lapsana communis.

Peachwort - Lady's Thumb, Polygonum persicaria.

Pearlwort - Pearl grass; pearl plant; any species of the genus Sagina.

Pennywort - Linaria cymbalaria. Also, any one of a number of peltate-leaved plants. Watercup; trumpetleaf. Also Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) and species from genus Hydrocotyle.

Pepperwort - Lepidium latifolium; Lepidium campestre; Spanish cress, Lepidium cardamines. Peppergrass; cockweed; dittander.

Peterwort - Saint Peter's wort.

Pilewort - Lesser celandine.

Pipewort - Eriocaulon.

Quillwort - Isoetes, of the quillwort family; certain seedless plants or "fern allies".

Quinsywort - Asperula cynanchica.

Common ragwort - Senecio jacobaea, and some other plants of the genus Senecio (once called cankerweed).

Rattlewort - Rattlebox, Crotalaria sagittalis.

Ribwort - Plantago lanceolata. Hen plant. English plantain, the common plantain introduced into the United States from Europe.

Rosewort - A plant of the rose family, Rosaceae. Also, roseroot, Rhodiola rosea, whose root has the fragrance of a rose.

Rupturewort - Alternanthera polygonoides.

Saltwort - A vague and indefinite name applied to any halophyte of the genus Salsola. Salsola kali is the prickly saltwort. Also, some species of Salicornia, the glassworts, are called saltworts.

Sandwort - A plant of the genus Arenaria. One of the Caryophyllaceae.

Sawwort - A plant of the genus Serratula, especially Serratula tinctoria.

Scorpionwort - either Ornithopus scorpioides or scorpion grass, the forget-me-not.

Scurvywort - Lesser celandine.

Sea Lungwort - Mertensia maritima.

Sea Milkwort - Of the primrose family, Primulaceae.

Sea ragwort - Dusty miller, Senecio cineraria.

Sea Sandwort - A plant of the North Atlantic seacoast.

Sea Starwort - Aster Tripolium.

Setterwort - Helleborus foetidus. Pegroots; setter grass; bear's foot.

Sicklewort - Prunella vulgaris, the healall.

Sleepwort - Lettuce, especially Lactuca virosa

Slipperwort - A plant of the genus Calceolaria.

Sneezewort - Achillea ptarmica. Goosetongue; Bastard pellitory.

Soapwort - One of the bruiseworts.

Sparrowwort - A general name for the plants of the genus Passerina.

Spearwort - A plant of the genus Ranunculus.

Spiderwort - Tradescantia virginica.

Spleenwort - Asplenium. A large genus of ferns; formerly used for spleen disorders.

Spoonwort - Any plant of the genus Cochlearia, as Cochlearia officinalis. Scurvy grass.

Springwort - Euphorbia lathyris. Caper spurge.

Spurwort - Sherardia arvensis. Field madder.

Stabwort - Wood sorrel, Oxalis acetosella.

Staggerwort - Same as Staverwort .

Staithwort - Same as colewort.

Standerwort - Standergrass, Orchis mascula.

Starwort - Any plant of the genus Aster.

Staverwort - Staggerwort; ragwort, Senecio jacobaea.

Stinkwort - Helleborus foetidus L. Stinking hellebore.

Stinkwort - Dittrichia graveolens (L.) W. Greuter

Stinkwort - Datura stramonium L.

Stinkwort - Inula graveolens (L.) Desf

Stitchwort - Any of several plants of the genus Stellaria. Stichwort.

St. Jame's Wort - Senecio jacobaea or Senecio aureus, two species of ragwort.

St. John's Wort - Any tasteless potherb. Herb John.

Stonewort - A general name for plants of the genus Chara; water horsetail.

St. Peter's Wort - Any plant of the genus Ascyrum. Hypericum quadrangulum. The cowslip.

Strapwort - Carrigiola littoralis.

Sulphurwort - Peucedanum officinale. Hog fennel.

Swallowwort - The Greater Celandine, Chelidonium majus. Also, any plant of the genus Asclepias or Cynanchum.

Sweetwort - Any plant of a sweet taste.

Talewort - Borago officinalis. Formerly considered a valuable remedy.

Tetterwort - According to 1913 Webster's Dictionary, Chelidonium majus in England or Sanguinaria canadensis in the Americas. A wort plant used to treat tetter.

Thoroughwort - Eupatorium perfoliatum. Boneset.

Throatwort - A name for one or two plants of the genus Campanula.

Thrumwort - Amaranthus caudatus; velvet flower or love-lies-bleeding.

Toothwort - Lathraea squamaria; also Dentaria diphylla. Crinkleroot or Pepper Root.

Towerwort - the tower mustard and some allied species of Arabis.

Tree lungwort - Sticta pulmonaria, a lichen.

Trophywort - The Indian cress; nasturtium, Tropaeolum majus.

Venus's-navelwort - Either blue navelwort or white navelwort.

Wall Pennywort - Navelwort.

Wartwort - An attractive European weed which has flowers that turn towards the sun.

Water dropwort - Oenanthe fistulosa, Oenanthe phellandrum, or any plant of that genus.

Water Figwort - Water betony.

Water Pennywort - Hydrocotyle; marsh pennyworts.

Water Starwort - Callitriche verna, of the water-milfoil family.

Waterwort - An aquatic plant of the genus Elatine. Any plant of the family Philydraceae.

White Navelwort - A plant of the genus Omphalodes.

White Swallowwort - Vincetoxicum officinale.

Willowwort - Any plant of the willow family, Salicaceae. A species of Lythrum. Grasspoly; a variety of loosestrife.

Woundwort - The name of several plants of the genus Stachys, a genus of labiate plants. Also, the kidney vetch.

Yellow starwort - Elecampane, Inula helenium.

Yellow-wort - Chlora perfoliata, Gentianaceae

References

1. ^ World of Words: A word about some useful plants
2. ^ Conrad, Jim, Natchez Naturalist Newsletter, December 21, 2003