Monochoria
Monochoria cyanea
Family: Pontederiaceae
What it is like
A herb which grow in water. It keeps growing from year to year. The stems are 10-40 cm long. The leaves near the base are 3-15 cm long by 0.5-8 cm wide. They are broadly oval. They are dark green and fleshy with a fleshy stalk. The leaf stalk is 2-18 cm long. The flowering group is 2-9 cm long. There are 3-15 flowers. The flowers are 1-2 cm long and blue or purple. The fruit is a capsule 1-1.5 cm long.
There are 8 Monochoria species. They are tropical and subtropical.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in ponds in tropical to warm temperate regions. It is endemic to Australia. It roots in mud in standing water. The stems float.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Australia, Indochina, Laos, SE Asia
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Leaves
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seed or division of the clump.