Frog Bit
Hydrocharis dubia

Family: Hydrocharitaceae

What it is like

A plant which grows in water and keeps growing from year to year. It can be free floating or root in mud. It has long creeping runners which are fleshy and branched. The leaves are 3-6 cm long by 3-6 cm wide. They are broadly oval, heart shaped or kidney shaped. The leaf stalks are 5-12 cm long. The leaves can be floating or above the water. They are bright green and shiny. They are spongy. The flowers are 2-3 cm across and white with a yellow centre. The male flowers are in groups of 1-4. The female flowers occur singly. They have longer stalks. The fruit are 5-10 mm long and about 5 mm wide. There are several lumpy seeds. These are 1-1.5 mm long.

There are 6 Hydrocharis species.

Where it is found

It grows in tropical and warm temperate places. It grows in still water. It grows in wetlands. It suits shallow water in a sunny position. It grows in water up to 30 cm deep. It can then extend out into deeper water. It can only tolerate light frosts.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Myanmar, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, South America, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The leafy shoots are dried and eaten in winter.

It is used locally.

Edible parts

Leaves, bud

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or pieces of the runners.

Its other names

Local names

Aguape, Eceng lalaki, Camalote, Espigacea, Guape, Lanceiro, Tochikagami

Synonyms

Hydrocharis morsus-ranae Hook.f. non Linn.; Hydrocharis asiatica Miq.; Hydrocharis cellulosa Buch.-Ham. ex Wall.; Pontederia dubia Blume;