ˈpondweed
[f. pond n. + weed.]
An aquatic herb that grows in ponds and still waters: spec. in Great Britain, the species of Potamogeton. With distinguishing prefix applied to other aquatic plants; as American pondweed, Canadian pondweed, or Choke P., Elodea canadensis (Anacharis Alsinastrum); Cape P., Aponogeton distachyon; Horned pondweed or Triple-headed P., Zannichellia palustris; Tassel P., Ruppia maritima (Treas. Bot. 1866).
| 1578 Lyte Dodoens i. lxxi. 104 The first..of these kindes of floting herbes..is called water spyke, or most commonly Pondeweede. 1657 S. Purchas Pol. Flying-Ins. i. xv. 94 Pondweed with a flower like Patience. 1760 J. Lee Introd. Bot. App. 323 Pond-weed, Potamogiton. Ibid., Pond-weed, Triple-headed, Zannichellia. 1789 J. Pilkington View Derbysh. I. 344 Potamogeton natans. Broad-leaved Pond-weed. 1855 Kingsley Glaucus (1878) 206 Some of the more delicate pond-weeds, such as Callitriche, Potamogeton pusillum. 1866 Treas. Bot., Zannichellia palustris, the Horned Pondweed. 1897 Westm. Gaz. 22 Nov. 2/1 In the stream,..the creamy Cape pond weed sent out the delicious perfume from its quaint large flowers. 1901 Ibid. 26 Nov. 12/2 The career of the Canadian pondweed (Anacharis alsinastrum..) is interesting because of the extraordinary rapidity with which it spreads itself throughout the country. 1902 Ibid. 17 Oct. 10/1 The American pondweed seems to be playing havoc with angling in Loch Leven. |