spikenard

n. 1 tall sweet-smelling indian plant. 2 hist. Perfumed ointment formerly made from this. [medieval latin spica nardi]

n. An aromatic plant. In the United States it is the Aralia racemosa, often called spignet, and used as a medicine. The spikenard of the ancients is the Nardostachys Jatamansi, a native of the Himalayan region. From its blackish roots a perfume for the hair is still prepared in India.