Vallisneria natans

Family: Hydrocharitaceae

What it is like

A plant which grows under water but attached to the bottom. Plants are separately male and female. They form stolons or runners which develop tufts of leaves along them. They also develop roots along this creeping stem. The leaves are narrow and like ribbons. They can be 1 m long and 1-2 cm wide. They form sheaths at the base. Sometimes there are fine brown lines along the leaves. The male flowers are very small and have a flower stalk up to 7 cm long. The female flowers are 1.5-2.5 cm across and on flower stalks 1 m long. This allows the flower to reach the water surface but once pollinated the fruit develops below water. Male flowers detach and float to the water surface allowing pollen to be released. The female flower has 3 sepals and 3 petals. The ovary is 17-25 mm long and split into 2 broad lobes. The fruit is greenish-yellow with black or brown stripes. The fruit can be 6-20 cm long.

The leaves are cooked and used as a medicine as an appetizer.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It occurs at low altitudes in Papua New Guinea. It grows in dense stands in shallow water (0.5-2.5 m) in lakes and slow flowing streams. It grows in wetlands.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, China, Himalayas, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Russia, SE Asia, Taiwan, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The young leaves are used as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Panchaduba

Synonyms

Vallisneria gigantea var.; and many others