canaigre

Noun

canaigre (uncountable)

1. (US) Rumex hymenosepalus, a species of dock native to southwestern North America with edible red stems and taproots containing tannin.
   • The true tannic acids are also widely distributed; […] in roots, as in the Texas plant, a Rumex commonly known as "Cañaigre;" […]1879 June, Henry B. Parsons, “Some Constituents of Plants”, in Fred[ric]k A. Castle, Charles Rice, editors, New Remedies: An Illustrated Monthly Trade Journal of Materia Medica, Pharmacy and...
   • The Commissioner of Agriculture, in his report for 1878, speaking of this plant, says: "The examination of the canaigre, for tannin, shows the existence of a very abundant source of this important material, and gives reason for the belief that the latter at least may soon afford a cheap supply to...1882, Albert J[ennings] Fountain, “Canaigre”, in Report of Dona Ana County, Santa Fe, N.M.: Bureau of Immigration of the Territory of New Mexico; New Mexican P[r]int., →OCLC, page 9

   Synonyms:

   tanner's dock, wild rhubarb

2. (US) Tannin-containing matter obtained from the taproots of the plant.
   • The preparation of an extract of cañaigre for tanning is a new industry,[…]. The cañaigre extract will be used for light leather, and it is expected that a ready market can be found in England for the whole product, at very profitable prices, and the plant can be raised upon land which is...1892 November 15, “Other Industries”, in Annual Report of the Secretary of the Interior, Washington, D.C.: Department of the Interior, →OCLC, page CII
   • Futhermore, other vegetable tannins, such as ground Canigre, Quebracho, Babul bark, Mimosa tannin and pure tannic acid are found to have a similar virucidal effect and are as acerin not bactericidal.1954, Zentralblatt für Bakteriologie, Parasitenkunde, Infektionskrankheiten und Hygiene: Medizinisch-hygienische, Bakteriologie, Virusforschung und Parasitologie [Journal for Bacteriology...