Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - scammony

 noun  (plural -nies)  Etymology: Middle English scamonie, from Old English & Anglo-French; Old English scammoniam, from Latin scammonia, from Greek skammonia; Anglo-French scamonie, from Latin  Date: before 12th century  1. a twining convolvulus (Convolvulus scammonia) of Asia Minor with a large thick root  2.  a. the dried root of ~  b. a cathartic resin obtained from ~