water-shield
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun 1. A common aquatic plant of eastern North America: A type of freshwater plant (Brasenia schreberi) characterized by having both floating leaves on the water's surface and submerged leaves beneath it. It produces distinctive white flowers with yellow spots. 2. An aquatic plant with floating oval leaves and purple flowers: Another common name for the fanwort (Cabomba caroliniana), an aquatic plant often used in aquariums. It features floating oval leaves, finely divided submerged leaves, and small purple or white flowers. It grows in lakes and slow-moving streams.
Examples
- The quiet pond was dotted with the round, floating leaves of the water-shield.
- Water-shield is sometimes used in decorative ponds and aquariums for its attractive foliage.
- Botanists studied the water-shield to understand its unique adaptation of having two distinct leaf types.
Advanced Usage
- The term water-shield can refer specifically to two different genera ( and ) within the family Cabombaceae. Context often clarifies which plant is meant, with being notable for its mucilage-covered stems and water-shield is a key species in certain wetland habitats.
Variants and Related Words
- Brasenia (n): The scientific genus name for one type of water-shield plant.
- Cabomba (n): The scientific genus name for the fanwort, also called water-shield.
- Fanwort (n): A common name for , synonymous with one meaning of water-shield.
- Aquatic plant (n): The general category to which water-shield belongs.
Synonyms
- For : Purple wen-dock (regional).
- For : Carolina fanwort, fish-grass.
Noun
- common aquatic plant of eastern North America having floating and submerged leaves and white yellow-spotted flowers
- aquatic plant with floating oval leaves and purple flowers; in lakes and slow-moving streams; suitable for aquariums