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Definition of whitlow grass

whitlow grass

Plural:whitlow grasses
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whitlow grass Lexical Profile

• noun

1

Any of several small, low-growing herbaceous plants of the mustard family (Brassicaceae), primarily in the genus Draba, typically native to cold or alpine regions across the Northern Hemisphere and characterized by small white or yellow cross-shaped flowers.

Example

"While surveying the rocky alpine slopes, the botanist documented small tufts of yellow whitlow grass blooming just after the snowmelt."

Word Origin & Etymology

The name derives from the historical use of the plant in traditional herbal medicine as a poultice to treat 'whitlows'—painful bacterial or viral infections on the fingertips or toes.

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Whitlow grass. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/whitlow grass
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