waterchestnut

water chestnut n.

1. A floating aquatic plant (Trapa natans) native to Eurasia and Africa, bearing four-pronged nutlike fruit and grown as a pond or aquarium ornamental. Also called caltrop, water caltrop.

2.

a. A tropical Asian aquatic sedge (Eleocharis dulcis) having an edible corm and cylindrical leaves.

b. The succulent corm of this plant, used in Asian cooking. Also called Chinese water chestnut.

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