Common Name: Duck Lettuce

General Information

Ottelia alismoides is a partly or fully submerged freshwater plant. A cluster of leaves are produced from a fibrous root system - these leaves can be very variable, with a petiole that can vary greatly in length depending upon the depth of water the plant is growing in. The leaves are usually submerged, except in very shallow water, but the flowers float when open, usually sinking below the surface after fertilization[, , ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. It is grown in ponds, where it helps to keep the water clear, and is also sometimes grown as an aquarium plant[].
Ottelia alismoides is widely distributed in north-eastern Africa, eastern and southeast Asia and the tropical regions of Australia. It has a large distribution area and is considered invasive in some countries. While it is possibly declining in parts of its range it is not thought that global population decline is likely to qualify the species for any threatened category The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2017)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, through southeast Asia to Philippines to New Guinea, Australia, Solomons

Habitat

Common in stagnant water, lakes and slow moving streams, often growing gregariously in shallow water; at elevations up to 700 metres, occasionally to 1,000 metres[, ].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.00 m
Pollinators	Insects, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

The plant is often regarded locally as a troublesome aquatic weed and removed manually[].

Edible Uses

The petioles and tender leaves are eaten as a vegetable - they have an excellent flavour[, ].
The leaves are used in Thailand for seasoning rice[].

The fruit is edible[]. It is sought after by children[].

Medicinal

The leaves are antibacterial, febrifuge and rubefacient[]. The plant is used in the topical treatment of haemorrhoids, and is applied to the arms and legs as a poultice against fever[, ].

In clinical trials, an extract of the plant cured two cases of bilateral tuberculosis of the cervical lymph glands within 3 months. The results suggest that the plant is a promising medicinal herb with an anti-tubercular effect[].
A study isolated the compounds otteliones A and B from the plant. These compounds showed a remarkable in vitro cytotoxicity against various cancer cell lines[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plants are used to improve the water quality in ponds by capturing floating mud particles[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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