Also 8–9 erron. lemma. [a. mod.L. (Linnæus) lemna, Gr. λέμνα.] A genus of aquatic plants; = DUCKWEED.
[1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., Lemma … is … the name of a small water plant well known to the antients … confounded by late writers among the duck weed kinds.]
1802. Bingley, Anim. Biog. (1813), III. 490. The Convallarian Vorticella is frequently found on the stalks of the lemma or duckweed.
attrib. 1882. G. F. Armstrong, Garland fr. Greece, 80. Not hid … under … thick Lethe’s lemna-scum.
