alkanet

Etymology

Diminutive of Spanish alcana, alheña.

noun

  1. Alkanna tinctoria, a plant whose root is used as a red dye.
  2. The dyeing matter extracted from the roots of the plant with water or oil, used for cotton especially but also silk and wool, giving a deep red colour.
  3. Other plants of the genus Alkanna.
  4. Anchusa officinalis (common bugloss), a similar plant.
  5. Anchusa ochroleuca (yellow alkanet).
  6. Cynoglottis barrelieri (syn. Anchusa barrelieri, false alkanet).