water lettuce

noun

1. a floating aquatic plant, Pistia stratiotes, of the arum family, having a rosette of thick, spongy leaves.

Word History and Origins

Origin of water lettuce¹

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

It shot out of the shallows and disappeared under a raft of water lettuce.

From Literature

Water hyacinth, water lettuce, water lily and cattails went in and around the goldfish pond.

From Washington Times

They lay their eggs on water lettuce — invasive weeds that float in the canals, drainage ditches and other waterways crisscrossing Florida neighborhoods.

From Seattle Times

Another Lab was able to detect invasive water lettuce, which is prohibited to import to Florida, contained within an unmarked box at a South Florida postal facility.

From Washington Times

Giant pine trees draped with moonseed vines towered over an Everglades-wet forest floor blanketed with gingers, ferns, duckweed, water lettuce and floating, flowering plants.

From New York Times