A family of aquatic flowering plants commonly known as the flowering-rush family, found in freshwater environments.
From the genus Butomus, from Greek bous (ox) plus temnein (to cut), referring to the sharp leaves that could injure cattle. The suffix -aceae denotes a plant family in Linnaean nomenclature.
The name literally means 'ox-cutter' because these plants have such sharp leaf edges they would cut the mouths of cattle drinking from marshy waters—it's a great example of how plant names often describe a useful or dangerous feature.
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