‖n.; pl.Peltæ. [ L., a shield, fr. Gr. pe`lth. ] 1. (Antiq.) A small shield, especially one of an approximately elliptic form, or crescent-shaped. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. (Bot.) A flat apothecium having no rim. [ 1913 Webster ]
{ } a. [ Cf. F. pelté. See Pelta. ] Shield-shaped; scutiform; (Bot.) having the stem or support attached to the lower surface, instead of at the base or margin; -- said of a leaf or other organ. -- Pel"tate*ly adv. [1913 Webster]
(adj) (of a leaf shape) round, with the stem attached near the center of the lower surface rather than the margin (as a nasturtium leaf for example), Syn. shield-shaped
(n) perennial herb of the eastern United States having arrowhead-shaped leaves and an elongate pointed spathe and green berries, Syn. Peltandra virginica, tuckahoe
(n) rhizomatous perennial herb with large dramatic peltate leaves and white to bright pink flowers in round heads on leafless stems; colonizes stream banks in the Sierra Nevada in California, Syn. Peltiphyllum peltatum, Indian rhubarb, Darmera peltata