noun

1. 1. a perennial plant (Alkanna tinctoria) of the borage family, found in SE Europe and Asia Minor
   2. the root of this plant which yields a red dye
   3. the dark-red coloring matter, CHO, present in this root
2. any of several other plants (genus Anchusa) of the borage family, grown for their red dyes or as garden plants
3. gromwell

Etymology: ME alknet < Sp alcaneta, dim. of alcana < Ar al-ḥinnāʾ, the henna