Eleocharis dulcis

9.9

A water plant that produces round crunchy tubers called water chestnuts

noun

Specialized

: Eleocharis dulcis

The crisp tubers of Eleocharis dulcis are a popular ingredient in many Asian dishes.

Examples

Farmers in Southeast Asia cultivate Eleocharis dulcis in shallow ponds for its edible water chestnuts.
Have you ever tried Eleocharis dulcis in your stir-fry?
Researchers are studying the nutritional benefits of Eleocharis dulcis for use in healthy snacks.
I bought some Eleocharis dulcis at the market.
Farmers in Southeast Asia cultivate Eleocharis dulcis in shallow ponds for its edible water chestnuts.
The crisp tubers of Eleocharis dulcis are a popular ingredient in many Asian dishes.
Researchers are studying the nutritional benefits of Eleocharis dulcis for use in healthy snacks.

Synonyms

water chestnut

vsEleocharis dulcis

2 3.0

A plant that grows in water with a crunchy edible part used in Asian cooking

is the specific cultivated sedge species rather than any aquatic edible plant part

Chinese water chestnut

vsEleocharis dulcis

4.4

A water plant with small crunchy bulbs eaten in Chinese cooking

is the scientific Latin name rather than the common cooking name

Surface Forms

Eleocharis dulcis singular

Eleocharis dulcises plural

Morphology

Eleocharis + dulcis

This is a Latin scientific binomial: 'Eleocharis' is a genus name and 'dulcis' is a Latin adjective (not a standard English word), so their literal meanings do not yield the common name 'Chinese water chestnut' to a B1 learner. Understanding the MWE requires botanical/Latin knowledge and naming conventions rather than ordinary compositional interpretation, so the meaning is not derivable from the constituents.

Etymology

Eleocharis dulcis is called the 'Chinese water chestnut' because it grows small, round bulbs that look like chestnuts and form in shallow water. That image of nut-like bulbs in water helps you remember it is a water plant people eat.