Kra chap
Trapa incisa
Family: Lythraceae
What it is like
A small floating herb. The stems are 1-3 mm across. The leaf stalks are 5-15 cm long and can be slightly swollen towards the end. The leaves are slightly purplish underneath. They are 2-3 cm long by 2-4 cm wide. There are teeth towards the tip. The fruit are narrow and 1-2 cm long by 1-2 cm wide and 1 cm thick with 4 pointed horns.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in stagnant water. It grows in swamps and ponds from sea level to 1,000 m above sea level and 2,000 m in SW China. It grows in wetlands. In Sichuan and Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Northeastern India, Russia, SE Asia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam
How it is used for food
The fruit are boiled or roasted and eaten.
Edible parts
Seeds, fruit
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Kata singhara, Pani phal, Pani singari, Singra kaita