ˈwalking-leaf
[walking ppl. a.]
1. † a. Some unidentified plant. b. An American evergreen fern, Camptosorus rhizophyllus.
| 1659 Lovell Herball 525 Walking leaves, Arbor foliis ambulantibus, it seemeth to creep on the ground, and being touched it will presently move it selfe. 1856 A. Gray Man. Bot. (1860) 593 Camptosorus, Link. Walking-Leaf. |
2. A phasmid insect belonging to the genus Phyllium or some related genus. Also walking-leaf-insect.
| 1826 G. Samouelle Direct. Collect. Insects & Crust. 32 This order [Orthoptera] contains the Grasshopper, Locust, Mantis, Walking-leaf, and the Cricket. 1892 Pall Mall Gaz. 10 Feb. 6/1 A large specimen of the walking-leaf insect. |