marsh trefoil n 1: 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, marsh trefoil, Menyanthes trifoliata]

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.

look up a word or phrase