Trapa Bicornis (Noun)
Meaning
Water chestnut whose spiny fruit has two rather than 4 prongs.
Classification
Nouns denoting plants.
Examples
- Trapa bicornis grows in shallow water at the edge of ponds and lakes, bearing distinctive fruit with sharp spines and only two prongs.
- Native to Asia and parts of Europe, Trapa bicornis can be an invasive aquatic plant in North America, choking out native species.
- Trapa bicornis seems to have adapted well to the slow-moving waters of the lake, spreading its spiny seeds as it grows unhindered.
- When mature, the seeds of Trapa bicornis consist of a tough stony exterior protecting a soft and edible interior, though picking them can be hazardous.
- Researchers speculate that Trapa bicornis contributes to decreased water quality due to its propensity to form dense mats on the surface of the water.