Water lettuce
Ottelia ulvifolia

Family: Hydrocharitaceae

What it is like

A herb that grows in water. It keeps growing from year to year. The leaves are under the water. They are 30 cm long by 6 cm wide. The leaves let light through. The flowers are yellow or white and are above the water.

There are about 40 Ottelia species. They grow in the tropics.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in moving water throughout West Africa.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Mozambique, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit, seeds, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Kumubu, Kunto, M'kopo, Pruia, Sobaba, Yi ba bo, Yi-sasa

Synonyms

Damasonium ulvaefolium Planch.;