Common marestail, Mare's-tail
Hippuris vulgaris
Family: Plantaginaceae
What it is like
A herb. It grows in marshes and looks like a horses tail. It has long runners. The rootstock are spongy and creeping. The shoots are erect. It grows 20-50 cm above the water. The leaves are narrow and pale green. They are 5 cm long and 0.3 cm wide. They are arranged in rings. It varies considerably and these have sometimes been called other species names. The leaves produced under the water are different from the leaves produced above the water. The flower is green. Several small flowers occur between the leaves. The fruit is like a nut.
There are 4 Hippuris species. Also put in the family Hippuridaceae.
Where it is found
A temperate plant. A marsh plant. It grows in shallow water and mud of streams. In China it grows from sea level to 5,000 m above sea level. Sichuan and Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Alaska, Arctic, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Britain, Canada, Central Asia, Chile, China, Europe, Korea, Luxembourg, Mongolia, Myanmar, North America, SE Asia, South America, Taiwan, Tajikistan, USA
How it is used for food
The young shoots are eaten. They are cooked or pickled before eating. They are also used for soup.
Edible parts
Leaves
How it is grown
Plants are easily grown from cuttings. They are planted in shallow water.
Its other names
Local names
Tayagum ilurii, Tayarut