water caltrop
• noun
Any of several floating annual aquatic plants of the genus Trapa (especially Trapa natans and Trapa bicornis) in the family Lythraceae, native to warm temperate regions of Eurasia and Africa, characterized by rosettes of diamond-shaped floating leaves and horned submerged fruits.
"Dense mats of invasive water caltrop covered the surface of the shallow river, blocking sunlight from reaching native submerged vegetation."
The large, hard-shelled, two- or four-horned seed pod of a plant of the genus Trapa, containing a starchy white kernel that is boiled, roasted, or ground into flour and eaten as a traditional root-like vegetable or snack in Asian cuisine.
"Street vendors in autumn often sell freshly steamed water caltrops, which shoppers crack open to enjoy the tender, chestnut-flavored kernels inside."
Word Nuance & Usage
Although both are sometimes referred to as 'water chestnut', the water caltrop (genus Trapa) is a floating plant bearing horned, nut-like pods, whereas the true Chinese water chestnut (Eleocharis dulcis) is a sedge grown for its round underground corms.
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