Hornwort, Rigid hornwort
Ceratophyllum demersum

Family: Ceratophyllaceae

What it is like

A plant which grows in water and under the water. It forms tangled colonies. The stems are brittle and do not have roots. They are branched. They can be 2 m long. The leaves are 1.5-4 cm long and slender. They are dark green and forked. There are 7-12 leaves in a ring. The flowers are small and occur singly at the nodes. The flowers are of one sex. Male flowers have several stamens on a common stalk. Female flowers have an ovary without a stalk. The fruit are black and 4.5 mm long. There are 3 spines one at the end and 2 at the sides.

There are 3 Ceratophyllum species. It is used in medicine. This one occurs almost worldwide.

Where it is found

They grow in temperate to tropical waters. It occurs in streams, ponds and lakes. It grows in still or slow-flowing water. It can be in water up to 10 m deep. Flowers and fruit occur in water about 25°C. It grows best in slightly alkaline water rich in nitrogen. In Zimbabwe it grows up to 1,600 m above sea level. in Sichuan and Yunnan. In Uni of Calicut BG.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Antilles, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Botswana, Brazil, Britain, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Central America (country/location of origin), Central Asia, Chile, China, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Europe, Fiji, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Jamaica, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Malawi, Mexico, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, New Zealand, North America, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Russia, SE Asia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South America (country/location of origin), Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Uruguay, USA, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The plant is boiled and eaten.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Plants are grown by using pieces of the stem.

Its other names

Local names

Candelabroaquatica, Cola de mono, Coontal, Foxtail, Gamban, Jin yu zao, Ksitsi, Mpusi, Nambha, Nasu, Navadni rogolist, Sheoyala, Shivala, Sivara, Ye-hnyi

Synonyms

Ceratophyllum oxyacanthum Cham.; Ceratophyllum tuberculatum Cham.; and several others