WATER CHESTNUT


Meaning of WATER CHESTNUT in English

Any of several perennial water plants of the genus Trapa (family Trapaceae), native to Europe, Asia, and Africa, or their edible, nutlike fruit.

The water caltrop ( T. natans ) has two sets of leaves

long, feathery, rootlike, submerged leaves and a loose rosette of floating leaves attached to leafstalks 2–4 in (5–10 cm) long. The small fruit usually has four spiny angles. The Chinese water chestnut ( Eleocharis tuberosus or E. dulcis ) is a member of the sedge family .

Britannica Concise Encyclopedia.      Краткая энциклопедия Британика.