Some botanists regard this species as the only genuine member of the genus, with all other species considered to be no more than a part of this one highly polymorphic species[].

Common Name: Water Chestnut

General Information

The water chestnut is an annual aquatic herb with a rosette of floating leaves and submerged, paired but not opposite, pinnatisect and leaf-like adventitious roots[]. The plant can be free-floating in the water, or rooting in the mud in shallow water. It is also able to grow out of water in very wet, muddy soils[].
Its use as a food crop has greatly declined in recent times in Europe, but it is an important crop in many parts of Asia where it is widely cultivated for its edible seeds[]. The plant is also grown as an ornamental in aquaria and outdoor ponds.

Known Hazards

The raw seed contains toxins but that these are destroyed in the cooking process[, ].

Botanical References

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Range

Europe to E. Asia, Indo-China and N. Africa.

Habitat

Slow-moving rivers, lakes, swamps and ponds from near sea level to 2,700 metres[]. Water up to 60cm deep.

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the temperate to tropical zones, where it is found at elevations up to 1,500 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 15 - 25°c, but can tolerate 10 - 35°c[]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -25°c, but young growth can be severely damaged at 0°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 500 - 1,200mm, but tolerates 300 - 1,600mm[].
A water plant, growing in water up to 60cm deep. Requires a sunny position in slightly acidic water[]. Dislikes calcium rich water[]. Prefers a rich soil[, , ]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 7.5, tolerating 5 - 8.2[].
There are some named varieties[, ].
In India, the fruit is broadcast in 30 - 69 cm deep nursery ponds and pressed into the mud, transplanted at the 4 - 5 leaf stage and replanted when 4 - 5 months old. Lateral pruning is carried out to accelerate flowering and fruiting[]. In China, the water chestnut is cultivated in running water[].

Edible Uses

Seed - raw, cooked or dried and ground into a powder[, , , , , , , ]. A sweet floury and agreeable flavour[], similar to sweet chestnuts (Castanea spp)[]. The seed contains up to 50% starch according to one report[], 16% starch, 3% protein in another report[] and 15% protein, 7.5% fat in a third[]. (Are all these reports talking about the same thing?). One report says that the raw nut contains toxins that are destroyed by cooking the seed[].

Medicinal

The fruits are used in the preparation of liniments to treat elephantiasis, pestilent fevers, rheumatism, sores, sunburn and skin complaints[].

Other Uses

The seeds are sometimes used as beads in necklaces and rosaries[, ].

Propagation

Seed - harvest in late summer and store overwinter in a jar of water in a cold but frost-free place. The seed quickly loses its vitality if it is allowed to become dry. Sow in spring, placing one seed in each pot and submerging them under a few centimetres of water.

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