Amazon sword
Echinodorus paniculatus
Family: Alismataceae
What it is like
A herb. It grows in water. It grows 3.5 m tall. It has a rhizome 3-4 cm across. The leaves are above water. The leaf blade is narrowly oval and 12.5-27 cm long by 1.4-15 cm wide. The flowering shoots are 40 cm long. The flowers are in 4-8 rings. There are 6-40 flowers in each ring.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in wetlands. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,500 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Argentina, Brazil, Central America, Guyana, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, South America
How it is used for food
The starchy root is eaten like arrowroot.
Edible parts
Root
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Chucharero, Espada amazonica, Lirio aquatico