Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BE'HEN, or BEN, n. [or BEK'EN.]

A plant. The white behen is a species of Cucubalus, called Swedish Lychnis, or guns sepungar. The empalement of its flower resembles net-work, and its leaves have somewhat of the flavor of peas. – Family of Plants. Encyc. The behen of the shops, or white behen, is spatling poppy. Red behen is sea lavender. – Lee. Bailey. Coxe.