Proserpinaca

noun

Pro·​ser·​pi·​na·​ca

prōˌsərpəˈnākə

: a genus of North American aquatic or marsh herbs (family Haloragaceae) having finely divided or pinnatifid leaves, tiny perfect but apetalous axillary flowers, and small bony angled fruit see mermaid weed

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, a plant, probably knotweed, from Proserpina, goddess of the subterranean world of the dead, from Greek Persephonē

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