Definition: marsh trefoil

Source: WordNet (r) 1.7

marsh trefoil
     n : perennial plant of Europe and America having racemes of
         white or purplish flowers and intensely bitter trifoliate
         leaves; often rooting at water margin and spreading
         across the surface [syn: water shamrock, buckbean, bogbean,
          bog myrtle, Menyanthes trifoliata]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Marsh \Marsh\, n. [OE. mersch, AS. mersc, fr. mere lake. See
   Mere pool, and cf. Marish, Morass.]
   A tract of soft wet land, commonly covered partially or
   wholly with water; a fen; a swamp; a morass. [Written also
   marish.]

   Marsh asphodel (Bot.), a plant (Nartheeium ossifragum)
      with linear equitant leaves, and a raceme of small white
      flowers; -- called also bog asphodel.

   Marsh cinquefoil (Bot.), a plant (Potentilla palustris)
      having purple flowers, and found growing in marshy places;
      marsh five-finger.

   Marsh elder. (Bot.)
   (a) The guelder-rose or cranberry tree (Viburnum Opulus).
   (b) In the United States, a composite shrub growing in salt
       marshes (Iva frutescens).

   Marsh five-finger. (Bot.) See Marsh cinquefoil (above).
      

   Marsh gas. (Chem.) See under Gas.

   Marsh grass (Bot.), a genus (Spartina) of coarse grasses
      growing in marshes; -- called also cord grass. The tall
      S. cynosuroides is not good for hay unless cut very
      young. The low S. juncea is a common component of salt
      hay.

   Marsh harrier (Zo["o]l.), a European hawk or harrier
      (Circus [ae]ruginosus); -- called also marsh hawk,
      moor hawk, moor buzzard, puttock.

   Marsh hawk. (Zo["o]l.)
   (a) A hawk or harrier (Circus cyaneus), native of both
       America and Europe. The adults are bluish slate above,
       with a white rump. Called also hen harrier, and mouse
       hawk.
   (b) The marsh harrier.

   Marsh hen (Zo["o]l.), a rail; esp., Rallus elegans of
      fresh-water marshes, and R. longirostris of salt-water
      marshes.

   Marsh mallow (Bot.), a plant of the genus Alth[ae]a ( A.
      officinalis) common in marshes near the seashore, and
      whose root is much used in medicine as a demulcent.

   Marsh marigold. (Bot.) See in the Vocabulary.

   Marsh pennywort (Bot.), any plant of the umbelliferous
      genus Hydrocotyle; low herbs with roundish leaves,
      growing in wet places; -- called also water pennywort.
      

   Marsh quail (Zo["o]l.), the meadow lark.

   Marsh rosemary (Bot.), a plant of the genus Statice (S.
      Limonium), common in salt marshes. Its root is powerfully
      astringent, and is sometimes used in medicine. Called also
      sea lavender.

   Marsh samphire (Bot.), a plant (Salicornia herbacea)
      found along seacoasts. See Glasswort.

   Marsh St. John's-wort (Bot.), an American herb (Elodes
      Virginica) with small opposite leaves and flesh-colored
      flowers.

   Marsh tea. (Bot.). Same as Labrador tea.

   Marsh trefoil. (Bot.) Same as Buckbean.

   Marsh wren (Zo["o]l.), any species of small American wrens
      of the genus Cistothorus, and allied genera. They
      chiefly inhabit salt marshes.