European frogbit
Hydrocharis morsus-ranae
Family: Hydrocharitaceae
What it is like
A floating plant. It keeps growing from year to year and has stolons or horizontal stems. It is about 30-50 cm long. The leaves are circular. They are thick and heart shaped at the base. They are about 5 cm across. The leaf stalks have leaf like structures at the base. The flowers are separately male and female on the same plant. There are 1-4 flowers. The male spadix bract has a stalk while the female one does not. The fruit are rounded and with ribs. There are many seeds.
There are 6 Hydrocharis species.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in pools and marshes.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Europe, Indochina, Luxembourg, North America, SE Asia, Slovenia, Thailand, USA
How it is used for food
The young shoots and leaves are eaten as a raw vegetable.
Edible parts
Leaves
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Pak tubtwaw, Phak tao, Tubtwawnaam, Yopae, žabji šejek