waterleaf

waterleaf
/waw"teuhr leef', wot"euhr-/, n.
any of several North American plants of the genus Hydrophyllum, having clusters of bluish or white flowers and leaves often bearing marks resembling water stains.
[1750-60; WATER + LEAF]

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▪ plant
 any of about eight species of herbaceous plants constituting a genus (Hydrophyllum) in the borage family (Boraginaceae) and native to damp woodlands of North America. Light-greenish mottling on the leaves, suggesting watermarks on paper, gives the genus its name. Notable members of the genus are the 75-cm- (2.5-foot-) tall Virginia waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum), with five- to seven-lobed leaves; it is also called Shawnee salad and John's cabbage in reference to the edible tender young shoots. The large-leaved waterleaf (H. macrophyllum) is similar to the Virginia waterleaf but is rough and hairy and about 60 cm tall. The broad-leaved waterleaf (H. canadense), also 60 cm tall, has maplelike leaves. Some species are used in wildflower gardens; they are valued for their attractive leaves and clusters of small white to purplish flowers with stamens that extend beyond the petals.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Waterleaf — Wa ter*leaf , n. (Bot.) Any plant of the American genus {Hydrophyllum}, herbs having white or pale blue bell shaped flowers. Gray. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Waterleaf — In botany, waterleaf can mean:* Any plant of the genus Hydrophyllum * Any plant which is a member of the waterleaf family, Hydrophyllaceae * A leaf vegetable, Talinum fruticosum (of the family Portulacaceae)In architecture, waterleaf means:*… …   Wikipedia

  • waterleaf — noun (plural waterleafs) Date: circa 1760 any of a genus (Hydrophyllum of the family Hydrophyllaceae, the waterleaf family) of perennial or biennial North American woodland herbs with lobed or pinnate toothed leaves and cymes of bell shaped… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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  • waterleaf — noun any of several plants of the genus Hydrophyllum • Hypernyms: ↑herb, ↑herbaceous plant • Hyponyms: ↑Virginia waterleaf, ↑Shawnee salad, ↑shawny, ↑Indian salad, ↑John s cabbage, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • Waterleaf (architecture) — In architecture, a waterleaf is a distinctive sculptural motif used on the capitals of columns and pillars in European buildings during the late 12th century. It is characteristic of the late Norman style of Romanesque architecture. A waterleaf… …   Wikipedia

  • waterleaf family — noun perennial woodland herbs • Syn: ↑Hydrophyllaceae, ↑family Hydrophyllaceae • Hypernyms: ↑asterid dicot family • Member Holonyms: ↑Polemoniales, ↑order Polemoniales …   Useful english dictionary

  • waterleaf family — the plant family Hydrophyllaceae, characterized by usually hairy herbaceous plants having lobed, divided, or compound leaves, five parted blue or white flowers, and capsular fruit, and including baby blue eyes, phacelia, and waterleaf. * * * …   Universalium

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