What is "waterleaf"

Waterleaf \Wa"ter*leaf`\, n. (Bot.) Any plant of the American genus Hydrophyllum, herbs having white or pale blue bell-shaped flowers.
--Gray.

n. 1 (context botany English) Any plant of the genus (taxlink Hydrophyllum genus noshow=1). 2 (context botany English) Any plant of ''(taxlink Hydrophyllaceae family noshow=1)'', the waterleaf family. 3 A tropical plant ((taxlink Talinum fruticosum species noshow=1)), the leaves of which are eaten as a vegetable. 4 (context architecture English) A leaf-shaped decoration used on the capitals of columns in late 12th-century Romanesque architecture 5 (context paper technology English) An absorbent unsized paper like blotters as opposed to slake-sized or hard sized papers.

n. any of several plants of the genus Hydrophyllum

In botany, waterleaf can mean:

• Any plant of the genus Hydrophyllum
• Any plant which is a member of the waterleaf family, Hydrophyllaceae
• Talinum fruticosum, a leaf vegetable of the family Portulacaceae

In architecture, waterleaf means:

• Waterleaf (architecture), sculptural decoration used on the capitals of columns in late twelfth century Romanesque architecture

In architecture, a waterleaf is a distinctive sculptural motif used on the capitals of columns and pillars in European buildings during the late twelfth century. It is a highly simplified plant motif, characteristic of the "late Norman" style of Romanesque architecture.

A waterleaf capital is formed of broad, smooth leaf-shapes (typically four in number), unribbed except for a central fold, which curve upward and outward before curling over at the tips where they meet the abacus (the flat slab at the top of the column, normally square but sometimes octagonal). The curled tip of the waterleaf may be small and neat or large and bulbous; it usually curves inward towards the abacus, but may occasionally turn outwards (both forms can sometimes be seen in adjacent capitals of the same period, as for example at Geddington, Northamptonshire, UK.).