fair maids of france

/fɛr meɪdz əv fræns/
noun
  1. A common name for a type of water plant (Ranunculus aquatilis) with small white flowers that float on the surface of ponds and slow streams.
    • Children love to spot fair-maids-of-france during nature walks near the creek.
    • Fair-maids-of-france are often found in shallow, calm waters across Europe.
    • The pond was covered with fair-maids-of-france, their white blossoms bobbing in the breeze.