waterleaf

noun

wa·​ter·​leaf ˈwȯ-tər-ˌlēf 

ˈwä-

plural waterleafs ˈwȯ-tər-ˌlēfs 

ˈwä-

: 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 flowers

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

The mottled fronds of waterleaf came next, followed by mayapples unfurling their glossy umbrellas and the extravagant white of the first trilliums. —John Gurda, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2020

On the other side of the path, a clump of waterleaf (Hydrophyllum canadense) was thriving against a tree stump. —Washington Post, 29 Oct. 2019

Thompson’s broadleaf lupine, Columbia desert parsley, Thompson’s waterleaf, and Hood River milkvetch. —Sunset, 22 Jan. 2018

Word History

First Known Use

1737, in the meaning defined above