Water celery, River ribbons
Vallisneria americana

Family: Hydrocharitaceae

What it is like

A plant that keeps growing from year to year. It is a ribbon like plant which grows in water. It grows 2 m above the water surface and spreads 1 m wide. The stem is slender. The leaves are large and twisted in spirals. They are green and grass-like. They can be 90 cm long by 2 cm wide. The flowers are greenish-white. They are very small and appear in summer. They float on the water. Male and female flowers are separate. After fertilisation fruit develop underwater. The fruit are small, curved seed capsules.

There are 2 Vallisneria species. They grow in the tropics. There is 1 species in tropical America.

Where it is found

It is a temperate to tropical plant. It does best in still water in a protected, sunny position. The water can be 1 m deep. It is sensitive to frost and drought.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Canada, Central America, China, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Europe (country/location of origin), Guatemala, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Iraq, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Middle East, North America (country/location of origin), Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, South America, Tasmania, USA, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

The young leaves are cooked and eaten.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by seed or by division. Seed are only produced if male and female plants both occur. Buds form at the base of the plant in winter and these grow and produce stolon.

Its other names

Local names

American Balayba, Eel-grass, Giant Val, Sabutan Buwaya

Synonyms

Vallisneria asiatica Miki; Vallisneria gigantea Graebner;