water sprite; Indian fern; water fern
Refers to the aquatic fern Ceratopteris thalictroides, also known by several English common names. Botanical term.
Water sprite is a fern that grows in rice paddies and wetlands.
Katakana spelling is common for this plant name; usually written in kana.
Kanji spelling exists but is rarely used; the plant is normally written in kana.
Compound of 水 (mizu, 'water') and 蕨 (warabi, 'bracken'), referring to a water-dwelling fern resembling bracken.