Undulated leaf aponogeton
Aponogeton undulatus

Family: Aponogetonaceae

What it is like

A plant which grows in water and keeps growing from year to year. The underground stem is branched. It can be 2.5 cm across. The leaves can be under water or floating. They have long stalks and can be 10-25 cm long by 1-4 cm wide. The edges are wavy. The leaves have patches which let light through. The plant produces runners with young plantlets are the end. The flowers are on a long stalk.

There are about 12-44 Aponogeton species. They are tropical and subtropical.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in stagnant or running shallow water. It grows in wetlands. It grows up to 300 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, India, Indochina, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, SE Asia, Thailand

How it is used for food

The bulbils are eaten raw and also cooked. The starchy tuberous rhizomes are eaten during famine.

Edible parts

Leaves, roots, bulbils

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Kesarkanda, Kesrunkanda

Synonyms

Aponogeton microphyllum Roxb.; Aponogeton stachyosporus de Wit; Spathium undulatum Edgew.;