Water snowflake, Floating heart
Nymphoides indica

Family: Menyanthaceae

What it is like

A herb which grows in water. It keeps growing from year to year. The roots are attached to the mud. The rhizomes are horizontal. The stem is like a cylinder and unbranched. It grows 1-2 m tall. The leaf stalk is like a cylinder. The leaf blade is 3-18 cm across. The leaf floats on the water. The leaf is round but with a heart shaped base. There are many flowers which are clustered at the nodes. The flowers are 1-2.5 cm across. They are white but can have a yellow base. The seeds are brown, round and 1-1.5 mm across. The seed coat is smooth. The capsules are oval and with few seeds. The capsules are 3-5 mm across.

There are about 30 Nymphoides species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It suits tropical and subtropical locations. It grows in water 2 m deep. It grows in wetlands. It occurs in standing water below 100-1600 m. in China. Plants are damaged by frost. It grows in lakes, pools, swamps and rivers. It can dry up and re-grow. In Zimbabwe it grows up to 1,650 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Eswatini, Fiji, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, North America, Pacific Islands, Paraguay, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies (country/location of origin), Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The flowers are eaten raw with fish sauces. The stalks and flower stalks can be eaten cooked. The fruit are eaten boiled or used in curries. The underground parts and leaf stalks are used as a vegetable. They are boiled and eaten.

Leaf stalks are sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Rhizome, root, flowers, stalks, fruit, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by seed or by division of the runners.

Its other names

Local names

Bara chulai, Bunga telepok, Chinnambel, Gagabuta, Hopapa-ho, Jin yin lian hua, Kanna kanda, Kanynguriny, Kya-linban, Lagartixa, Mardebulmardebulh, Panchuli, Pan seuli, Phak kanong ma, Ra rau rau, Sadom lachomkor ba, Skoun, Skuen damrei, Soldanela-d'agua, Thariktha-macha, White fringe, Yin-lien-hua

Synonyms

Limanthemum esquirolii H. Lev.; Limanthemum humboldtianum (Kunth) Griseb.; Limnanthemum indicum (L.) Griseb.; Limnanthemum indicum (L.) Thwaites; Limanthemum thunbergianum Griseb.; Menyanthes indica Linnaeus; Limnanthemum esquirolii H. Léveillé; Nymphoides humboldtiana (Kunth) Kuntze.; Nymphoides thunbergiana (Griseb.) Kuntze; Trachysperma humboldtiana (Kunth) House; Trachyspermum humboldtianum (Kunth) House; Villarsia humboldtiana Kunth; Villarsia indica (L.) Vent.;