pickerelweed

American

[pik-er-uhl-weed, pik-ruhl-] / ˈpɪk ər əlˌwid, ˈpɪk rəl- /

noun

any American plant of the genus Pontederia, especially P. cordata, having spikes of blue flowers, common in shallow fresh water.

pickerelweed British

/ ˈpɪkərəlˌwiːd, ˈpɪkrəl- /

noun

any of several North American freshwater plants of the genus Pontederia, esp P. cordata, having arrow-shaped leaves and purple flowers: family Pontederiaceae

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of pickerelweed

First recorded in 1645–55; pickerel + weed ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Part of the plan involves reintroducing native plant species that are more appropriate to the site than Phragmites: narrowleaf cattail, pickerelweed, black willow, blue iris, buttonbush and alder.

From Washington Post

Standing on the boardwalk, surrounded by cattail and pickerelweed, Barker explained that the park was formed by a number of sinkholes coming together to create the basin tens of thousands of years ago.

From Washington Post

The floating water lily pads and clumps of pickerelweed in “Passengers” give off a muted glow amid their reflections.

From New York Times

From their goldenrod borders reaches a world of happy whiteness, against sky the color of the pickerelweed flower, waving softly, shadowed only by the plumy clouds.

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023