Water Lettuce, Nile cabbage
Pistia stratiotes
Family: Araceae
What it is like
A floating herb. This plant looks something like a lettuce and grows on water. The water needs to be stagnant or slow moving. The leaves are produced in a rosette. They are light green. The leaves are hairy and have 7-15 ridges. The plant sends out runners. These end with a tuft of leaves. The leaves overlap and are without stalks. They arise from the same level. Plants are of separate sexes. The female flowers occur singly and are at the base. Male flowers have a single stamen and occur as 2-8 flowers together. They are at the end of the plant.
Plants contain stinging crystals. There is only one Pistia species. It can be invasive.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It is common and widely distributed in low and medium altitudes in the Philippines. It occurs on the surface of stagnant water and slow moving streams. It grows in water fields, lakes, ponds. It occurs in both the tropics and subtropics. It needs temperatures above 12°C. It grows in water rich in nutrients. It is sensitive to frost. It suits hardiness zones 9-11. In Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Angola, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central America, Chile, China, Congo, Congo R, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba (country/location of origin), Dominican Republic (country/location of origin), East Africa, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guam, Guatemala, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti (country/location of origin), India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Laos, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nigeria, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South America (country/location of origin), Sri Lanka, St Helena, Sudan, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies (country/location of origin), Zambia, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
The young leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. They are also added to soups. CAUTION: The plant contains stinging oxalate crystals. These can be removed by boiling and changing the cooking water. The plant also accumulates heavy metals in polluted streams. Ash from the burned plants is used as a salt substitute.
It is a famine food. It is cultivated in some places.
Edible parts
Leaves, vegetable, salt
How it is grown
Plants are grown from pieces of the runners. They can also grow from leaves. They can be grown from seeds.
Leaves are available throughout the year.
Its other names
Local names
Akasa tamarai, Alface-d'agua, Antara gange, Anthara thamara, Antharai-dhaman, Apon-apon, Apu-apu, Bahata, Borajhanji, Caa pey, Chauk, Da piao, Darahero, Golfo, Gondala, Hmaw, Jalamandvi, Jalashamkhala, Jalkhumbi, Jall khumbi, Jall shamkala, Jaru, Jauk, Kajeng apu, Kambiang, Kang-jao, Kapu-kapu, Kayu apu, Kiambang, Kiapo, Koditamarai, Kudapayal, Kumbhika, Kunhui, Lechuguilla del rio, Llanten de agua, Loloan, Mbutzemelep, Murere, Murere-page, Muttapayal, Nargis, Nirubuduki, Page, Pasta, Prasni, Quiapo, Repollito de agua, Sarebafae, Takapana, Ye-salat
Synonyms
Pistia occidentalis Blume; and several others