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water speedwell

water speedwell

9.8
A plant with spikes of small blue flowers that grows in wet places near rivers and ponds
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : verónica de agua
  • The water speedwell thrives along the edges of slow-moving streams and ponds.

Examples

  • Gardeners often choose water speedwell for wetland restoration projects due to its adaptability.

  • The water speedwell blooms beautifully in the spring.

  • During our hike, we spotted clusters of water speedwell blooming near the riverbank.

  • Have you seen the water speedwell by the pond?

  • During our hike, we spotted clusters of water speedwell blooming near the riverbank.

  • The water speedwell thrives along the edges of slow-moving streams and ponds.

  • Gardeners often choose water speedwell for wetland restoration projects due to its adaptability.

Synonyms

veronica
vswater speedwell
1 7.9

A small flowering plant with blue or white flowers often grown in gardens

is one specific wetland species rather than the broader genus group
speedwell
vswater speedwell
1 9.8

A small flowering plant with blue or purple flowers that grows in gardens and fields

is one wetland species rather than a general group of related plants
Veronica anagallis-aquatica
vswater speedwell
  • Specialized
9.9

A flowering plant that grows in wet places like streams and marshes, often called water speedwell

is the everyday common name rather than the formal Latin label

Surface Forms

Morphology

water + speedwell

This is a compositional noun-noun compound: 'water' simply specifies the habitat or characteristic of the base noun 'speedwell' (a flowering plant). A B1 learner who knows both constituents can reasonably infer it denotes a type of speedwell that grows in wet places, so the meaning is directly derivable from the parts.

Etymology

Water speedwell is named for where it grows and an old belief: water because it lives at the edges of streams and ponds, and speedwell because people once thought the plant could bring 'speed', meaning a quick recovery, and make someone 'well'. So the name paints a simple picture of a small blue-flowered plant by the water that was once thought to help people get better quickly.