[CROSS- 3 + WORT.]

1

  1.  A name of various plants having leaves arranged in the form of a cross, or whorl of four; esp. Galium cruciatum (also Crosswort Bedstraw); also of the non-British plants Vaillantia cruciata, Eupatorium perfoliatum, and the genus Crucianella. Crosswort Gentian, Gentiana cruciata.

2

1578.  Lyte, Dodoens, IV. lxxvii. 541. Croswort is a pale greene herbe, drawing nere to a yellow Popingay colour…. The leaues be … smal … alwayes foure growing togither … in fashion lyke to a Crosse at euery ioynt.

3

1597.  Gerarde, Herbal, II. c. § 3. 352. Crossewoort Gentian.

4

1756.  Watson, in Phil. Trans., XLIX. 853. Crosswort or Mugweed.

5

1866.  Treas. Bot., 352. Crucianella, a genus of herbaceous plants, called Crosswort and Petty Madder.

6

  2.  pl. A book-name for the N.O. Cruciferæ (plants with cruciform flowers).

7

1861.  Mrs. Lankester, Wild Flowers, 29. [A] very extensive and useful family of plants—Cruciferæ or Crossworts.

8

1884.  Miller, Plant-n., Cross-wort, any cruciferous plant.

9