A plant of the buttercup family, especially a tall plant with white flowers, believed to repel insects and bugs.
From 'bug' (insect) plus 'bane' (poison or curse), literally meaning something that kills or repels bugs. The compound word reflects medieval beliefs about plants' properties.
Bugbane contains naturally occurring insecticidal compounds, so its folk name wasn't just superstition—the plant actually does repel many insects, which is why it's still used in organic gardens today.
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