Pond Lettuce
Ottelia alismoides

Family: Hydrocharitaceae

What it is like

A herb growing in fresh water. It develops tufts and keeps growing from year to year. The clumps are 60 cm wide. The leaves are very variable and have short or long leaf stalks according to the depth of water. The leaf blade of leaves which are under water are long and those which are floating are rounded. The leaves can be 1 m long and the blade 15-20 cm long by 15-20 cm wide. The base of the leaf is heart shaped. The leaves are green to bronze. They have prominent veins. The leafy bract around the flower has 5-10 wings. The flowers are 5-6 cm across and white with darker veins. They have 3 petals. The flowers are on the surface. The fruit are oblong and 2.5 to 4 cm long.

There are about 21-40 Ottelia species. They grow in the tropics. There is one species in tropical America.

Where it is found

It is a tropical and subtropical plant. It can grow in stagnant water. It grows in wetlands. It occurs throughout the Philippines in shallow lakes and slow running streams. It needs bright light and warm water. In Yunnan. In Calicut Uni BG.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Central America, China, East Timor, Egypt, Europe, Guatemala, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Mediterranean, Myanmar, Nepal, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, USA, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The mature fruit are eaten raw. They are also eaten cooked. The leaves and leaf stalks are eaten after cooking. They are also eaten raw with fish sauce. They are blanched. The flower buds are used as a vegetable.

The leaves, stalks, and flowers have an attractive flavour. The ripe fruit are eaten especially by children. It is sold in local markets in China. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Leaves as condiment, spice, fruit, flower stalks, flowers, seeds, stems - tea

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed. They are planted on mud or in shallow, warm water. It can also be grown by removing suckers.

In northeastern India plants flower and fruit from September to March.

Its other names

Local names

Chowehan, Dragon's tongue herb, Duck lettuce, Echeng, Kalabua, Keladi ayer, Khar, Mizu-obako, Panicola, Panikela, Panikola, Panikundri, Phak hob hep, Santawaa phak, Santawah pak, Senguntepa, Shui-che-chien, Shui jie cai, Shyamkola, Slab chrawa, Tarabang

Synonyms

Damasonium alismoides (L.) R. Brown; Damasonium indicum Willd.; Ottelia condorensis Gagnep.; Ottelia japonica Miquel; Ottelia javanica Miquel; Stratios alismoides L.;