Oval-leaf monochoria
Monochoria vaginalis

Family: Pontederiaceae

What it is like

A plant which grows in water attached to the mud. It keeps growing from year to year. The stems are 5 cm long. The plant can grow to 35 cm tall. The lower leaf is 2.5-11 cm long by 0.4-7.5 cm wide. The leaves are sword shaped to broadly oval. The leaf stalk is fleshy and 5-70 cm long. The stem leaf is similar to the lower leaf. The flower stalk is 12-35 cm long. The flower cluster is 1.5-5 cm long and dense bearing 1-20 flowers. The flowers are 0.9-1.8 cm long and blue. The fruit is a capsule 1 cm across and round but flattened at the top. The seeds are oval and about 1 mm across. Now Pontederia vaginalis

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It needs a sunny position for flowering. It occurs in slow moving streams and swamps. It grows in wetlands. It grows to 1550 m altitude. It is very frost sensitive. It is native to Australia and Asia. It is often in rice fields. It suits acid soils. In Sichuan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Fiji, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Russia, SE Asia, Siberia, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, USA, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The stems and young leaves are cooked and used as a vegetable. They are spicy. The flower is eaten raw and also cooked as a vegetable with small fish.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. Leaves are sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Leaves, flowers, tubers, vegetable, stem, rhizome, root

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or by division of the clump.

Its other names

Local names

Ajnai, An mu, Bakbaklung, Beda, Bengok, Bhat meteka, Bia bia, Biga-bigaan, Bilagut, Birabiraan, Cachiee, Chrach, Dhape jhar, Duck tongue, Duke's tongue, Echeng lembut, Echeng leutik, Echeng padi, Ehin, Etjeng padi, Gabing uwak, Gai jiu, Indivar, Kadauk-sat, Kakapola, Karinkoovalam, Kelayar, Khakhiat, Lestalesan, Lochkor ara, Nanka, Ninlabon, Nirkancha, Nukha, Oval-leaf-pondweed, Pa hen, Pak kha khied, Panikasu, Phak e-hin, Phak khiat, Pickerel-weed, Rau choc, Sadom, Saklong, Wewehan, Ya she cao, Yan re miao

Synonyms

Pontederia vaginalis N. L. Burman; Boottia mairei H. Léveillé; Monochoria linearis (Hasskarl) Miquel; Monochoria ovata Kunth; Monochoria plantaginea Kunth; Monochoria vaginalis var. pauciflora (Blume) Merrill; Monochoria vaginalis var. plantaginea (Roxburgh) Solms; Pontederia linearis Hasskarl; Pontederia ovata Hooker & Arnott (1837), not Lin-naeus(1753); Pontederia pauciflora Blume; Pontederia plantaginea Roxburgh;