Common Name:

General Information

Monochoria hastata is a herbaceous, perennial plant with erect or obliquely erect stems up to 125cm tall[]. Growing in or by water, in deeper water it often becomes a floating plant[].
The plant is a popular wild vegetable within its native range. It is also sometimes grown as an ornamental[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - China, Indian subcontinent, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea, northern Australia.

Habitat

In and along freshwater pools, on canal banks, on mud-flats in rivers, along irrigation ditches, sometimes
in paddy-fields at elevations from sea level to 700 metres[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.00 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 700 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 25 - 35°c, but can tolerate 16 - 38°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,500 - 2,000mm, but tolerates 1,000 - 4,000mm[].
Grows best in a sunny position[]. Succeeds in wet soil and in water, becoming a floating plant in deeper water[]. Grows best in a fertile, heavy to medium-textured soil[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6.5, tolerating 4 - 7[].
The plant is a common weed of paddy fields[].

Edible Uses

Almost all parts of the plant, barring the roots, furnish a relished vegetable dish[].

The leaves and stems are cooked and eaten as a vegetable[].

The inflorescence can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable, but is also sometimes eaten raw[].

Medicinal

The plant has medicinal properties[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe[].
Division.
Cuttings.

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