opopanax

CIDE DICTIONARY

opopanax, n. [L., fr. Gr. ; vegetable juice + pa`nax, pa`nakes, a kind of plant: cf. F. opopanax.].

 The inspissated juice of an umbelliferous plant (the Opoponax Chironum), brought from Turkey and the East Indies in loose granules, or sometimes in larger masses, of a reddish yellow color, with specks of white. It has a strong smell and acrid taste, and was formerly used in medicine as an emmenagogue and antispasmodic.  Dunglison.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

opopanax, n.
1 a an umbelliferous plant, Opopanax chironium, with yellow flowers. b a resinous gum obtained from the roots of this plant and used in perfume.
2 = sponge tree.

Etymology

ME f. L f. Gk f. opos juice + panax formed as PANACEA