alkanet Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun perennial or biennial herb cultivated for its delicate usually blue flowers
    bugloss; Anchusa officinalis.

WordNet

Al"ka*net noun
Etymology
Dim. of Sp. alcana, alhea, in which al is the Ar. article. See Henna, and cf. Orchanet.
Definitions
  1. (Chem.) A dyeing matter extracted from the roots of Alkanna tinctoria, which gives a fine deep red color.
  2. (Bot.) (a) A boraginaceous herb (Alkanna tinctoria) yielding the dye; orchanet. (b) The similar plant Anchusa officinalis; bugloss; also, the American puccoon.

Webster 1913