Function: noun
Date: 15th century
1 archaic : COMET
2 : any of various plants having conspicuous flower clusters or star-shaped flowers: as a : any of a genus ( Liatris ) of No. American composite herbs with spikes of rosy-purple rayless flowers ― called also button snakeroot b : any of several No. American rough-leaved herbs (genus Mentzelia of the family Losaceae)