WATER-SOLDIER, in botany: A genus of plants belonging to the class of polyandria, and to the order of hemicycla; and in the natural system ranging under the first order, palmae. The spathe is diphyllous; the perianthium is tridid. There are three petals, and the berry is six-celled and inferior. There are three species, the aloides, the acoroides, and alifmoides. The aloides alone is of British extraction, which is also called the water aloe, or fresh-water soldier. The root consists of long fibres tufted at the ends. The leaves are thick, triangular, pointed, and prickly at the edges. The flowers are white and floating on the water, and blossom in June. This plant may be seen in slow rivers and fens.