water shield

water shield
1. Also called water target. an aquatic plant, Brasenia schreberi, of the water lily family, having purple flowers, floating, elliptic leaves, and a jellylike coating on the underwater stems and roots.
2. a fanwort, esp. Cabomba caroliniana. See illus. under dimorphism.
[1810-20]

* * *

▪ Brasenia schreberi
      (Brasenia schreberi), small purple-flowered aquatic plant of the fanwort family (Cabombaceae), found in northern ponds and still waters throughout the world, except in Europe. “Water shield” also refers to fanwort (Cabomba).

      Each oval, floating leaf of water shield is 5 to 10 centimetres (about 2 to 4 inches) long. A long, jelly-coated stem connects the middle of the leaf to rootstocks buried in mud. Several leafstalks of varying lengths rise from the main stalk. The flowers are small, 1.3 to 2 centimetres wide, and have three or four narrow petals; the small fruit is club shaped.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Water-shield — may refer to following aquatic plants:* Brasenia schreberi (water shield) * Cabomba caroliniana (fanwort; Carolina water shield) …   Wikipedia

  • Water shield — Wa ter shield (Bot.) An aquatic American plant ({Brasenia peltata}) having floating oval leaves, and the covered with a clear jelly. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • water shield — n. ☆ 1. a purple flowered waterlily (Brasenia schreberi) having floating leaves coated underneath with a jellylike substance 2. CABOMBA …   English World dictionary

  • water shield — noun 1. : an aquatic plant (Brasenia schreberi) with floating leaves olive green above and red below and all under water parts covered with a thick layer of jellylike slime called also water target 2. : fanwort; especially : a common aquatic… …   Useful english dictionary

  • water-shield — paprastoji brasenija statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Labūstrinių šeimos dekoratyvinis augalas (Brasenia schreberi), paplitęs Afrikoje, Azijoje ir Šiaurės ir Pietų Amerikoje. atitikmenys: lot. Brasenia schreberi angl. water shield; water… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • water shield — wa′ter shield n. 1) pln an aquatic plant, Brasenia schreberi, of the water lily family, having purple flowers, floating, elliptic leaves, and a jellylike coating on the underwater stems and roots 2) pln a fanwort, esp Cabomba caroliniana[/ex] •… …   From formal English to slang

  • water-shield — noun 1. aquatic plant with floating oval leaves and purple flowers; in lakes and slow moving streams; suitable for aquariums • Syn: ↑Brasenia schreberi, ↑water target • Hypernyms: ↑water lily • Member Holonyms: ↑Brasenia, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • water-shield family — noun in some classifications considered an independent family of water lilies; comprises the genera Cabomba and Brasenia • Syn: ↑Cabombaceae, ↑subfamily Cabombaceae • Hypernyms: ↑magnoliid dicot family • Member Holonyms: ↑Nymphaeaceae, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • water shield — noun Date: circa 1818 an aquatic herb (Brasenia schreberi) having floating oval leaves with a gelatinous coating and small dull purple flowers; also any of a related genus (Cabomba) …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • water shield — /ˈwɔtə ʃild/ (say wawtuh sheeld) noun any of the aquatic plants of the genera Brasenia and Cabomba, with peltate floating leaves …  

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”