See Also: hemidesmus(dictionary)

hemidesmus (iou)



hemidesmus noun. L19.
[mod. Latin (see below), from HEMI- + Greek desmos bond, with ref. to the partial fusion of the stamens.]
An Indian twining shrub, Hemidesmus indicus (family Asclepiadaceae), whose root is used as a substitute for sarsaparilla; a syrup prepared from this root.