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Useful Tropical Plants

(Redirected from Trapa bicornis)

Trapa natans bispinosa

(Roxb.) Makino

Lythraceae


There have been many, varied views amongst botanistis on how to deliminate the various species in the genus Trapa, with interpretations ranging from almost 80 distinct species right down to the concept that there is only one, highly vaiable species. We are following the interpretation in Plants of the World online (see https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:28563-1, accessed 01/05/2024), which accepts 8 distinct species in the genus, including the highly variable Trapa natans which is itself divided into 8 varieties[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

+ Synonyms

Trapa bicornis Osbeck

Trapa natans bicornis (Osbeck) Makino

Trapa taiwanensis Nakai

Trapa arcuata S.H.Li & Y.L.Chang

Trapa austroafricana V.N.Vassil.

Trapa bicornis bispinosa (Roxb.) Nakano

Trapa bispinosa Roxb.

Trapa chinensis Flerow

Trapa chinensis Lour.

Trapa cochinchinensis Lour.

Trapa congolensis V.N.Vassil.

Trapa dimorphocarpa Z.S.Diao

Trapa insperata V.N.Vassil.

Trapa japonica Flerow

Trapa jeholensis Nakai

Trapa manshurica bispinosa Flerow

Common Name: Ling

No Image.

General Information

Trapa natans bispinosa is an annual aquatic herb with a rosette of floating leaves and submerged, paired but not opposite, pinnatisect and leaf-like adventitious roots[
324
Title
Edible Nuts.
Publication
Non-Wood Forest Products, Handbook 5
Author
Wickens G.E.
Website
http://www.fao.org/docrep/
Publisher
FAO, Rome.
Year
1995
ISBN
92-5-103748-5
Description
Detailed information on 20 of the most valuable nut crops, plus more basic information on a wide range of other nut-producing plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. 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[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
].
Often called water chestnut (though this name properly refers to a quite different plant, Eleocharis dulcis). The plant has a long history of use, with evidence showing that the seeds were a major component of the human diet several thousand years ago, Its use as a food crop has greatly declined in recent times in Europe, but it is a very important crop in many parts of Asia, especially China and India where it is widely cultivated for its nutritious, edible seeds and has various medicinal properties[
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
,
2216
Title
Trapa natans (Water Chestnut): An Overview
Publication
IRJP 2012, 3 (6) pp 31-33
Author
Shalabh B., Akash J. & Jasmine C.
Website
http://www.irjponline.com
Publisher
 
Year
2012
ISBN
2230-8407
Description
 
]. The plant is also grown as an ornamental in aquaria and outdoor ponds.
Trapa natans is a widespread and does not face any major global threats. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2019)[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Trapa natans is a productive, annual, floating-leaved plant which has been cultivated globally for the nutritious nut it produces. It is an extremely important food crop in China and India and is a protected species in Europe, but in its introduced range (particularly eastern N. America)), it grows in thick stands that displace native vegetation and affect water quality. Thick beds of water chestnut can cause significant declines in dissolved oxygen that negatively affect sensitive fauna. The nearly impenetrable mats are of virtually no use to wildlife and interfere with boating, fishing and swimming, while the large, spiny nuts can cause injuries to swimmers. The plant sets abundant seed, making it difficult to eradicate once it is introduced. The plant is designated as invasive in eastern N. America.[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].

Known Hazards

The raw seed contains toxins but that these are destroyed in the cooking process[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
206
Title
Oriental Vegetables
Publication
 
Author
Larkcom J.
Publisher
John Murray
Year
1991
ISBN
0-7195-4781-4
Description
Well written and very informative.
].

Botanical References

200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.

Range

Africa - tropical regions from Chad and Sudan to Namibia and Mozambique. E. Asia - Indian subcontinent, to Russian Far East, China, Japan, Korea, Viet

Habitat

Swamps and ponds[
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].

Properties

Weed PotentialYes
Edibility Rating *  *  *  *
Medicinal Rating *
HabitPerennial
Height0.00 m
PollinatorsSelf, Insects
Self-fertileYes
Cultivation StatusCultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Trapa natans bispinosa has a very wide native range from tropical Africa and southeast Asia to the temperate regions of the Russian Far East. It is mainly found in the seasonally dry tropics. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 15 - 25°c, but can tolerate 10 - 35°c[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
]. When dormant, the plant (in the form of a seed) can survive temperatures down to about -25°c, but young growth can be severely damaged at 0°c[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
]. Plants can be grown in the temperate zone, but require a high summer temperature in order to perform well[
206
Title
Oriental Vegetables
Publication
 
Author
Larkcom J.
Publisher
John Murray
Year
1991
ISBN
0-7195-4781-4
Description
Well written and very informative.
].
An aquatic plant, floating by means of inflated petioles, it succeeds in still or slowly-flowing water requiring a position in full sun and a slightly acidic water with a rich planting medium[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
This species was used for food in Neolithic Britain, though it is now extinct there[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].

Edible Uses

Seed - cooked. A crunchy texture with a bland flavour[
206
Title
Oriental Vegetables
Publication
 
Author
Larkcom J.
Publisher
John Murray
Year
1991
ISBN
0-7195-4781-4
Description
Well written and very informative.
]. Rich in starch, the raw seed contains a deleterious principle that is destroyed by cooking[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. The cooked seed can be dried and ground into a powder[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].

Medicinal

The fruit (seed) is used in Ayurvedic medicine as an antidiarrhoeal, aphrodisiac, appetizer, astringent, diuretic, nutrient, refrigerant and tonic. It is also useful in the treatment of lumbago, sore throat, bronchitis, bilious affections, fatigue and inflammation[
218
Title
Medicinal Plants of China
Publication
 
Author
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S.
Publisher
Reference Publications, Inc.
Year
1985
ISBN
0-917256-20-4
Description
Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.
,
240
Title
Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
Publication
 
Author
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
Publisher
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
Year
1986
ISBN
-
Description
Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
,
2216
Title
Trapa natans (Water Chestnut): An Overview
Publication
IRJP 2012, 3 (6) pp 31-33
Author
Shalabh B., Akash J. & Jasmine C.
Website
http://www.irjponline.com
Publisher
 
Year
2012
ISBN
2230-8407
Description
 
].
The fruits are used in the preparation of liniments to treat elephantiasis, pestilent fevers, rheumatism, sores, sunburn and skin complaints[
218
Title
Medicinal Plants of China
Publication
 
Author
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S.
Publisher
Reference Publications, Inc.
Year
1985
ISBN
0-917256-20-4
Description
Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.
,
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
,
2216
Title
Trapa natans (Water Chestnut): An Overview
Publication
IRJP 2012, 3 (6) pp 31-33
Author
Shalabh B., Akash J. & Jasmine C.
Website
http://www.irjponline.com
Publisher
 
Year
2012
ISBN
2230-8407
Description
 
].

The juice of the stems is used to treat eye disorders[
2216
Title
Trapa natans (Water Chestnut): An Overview
Publication
IRJP 2012, 3 (6) pp 31-33
Author
Shalabh B., Akash J. & Jasmine C.
Website
http://www.irjponline.com
Publisher
 
Year
2012
ISBN
2230-8407
Description
 
].

The plant is used medicinally to treat rabies, poisonous animal bites, diarrhoea, amoebic dysentery and other complications[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
]. It has allso been used in a herbal mixture that has proven to provide relief from the symptoms associated with recurrent herpes genitalis and labialis[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].

The flowers are astringent in fluxes[
218
Title
Medicinal Plants of China
Publication
 
Author
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S.
Publisher
Reference Publications, Inc.
Year
1985
ISBN
0-917256-20-4
Description
Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.
].

The rind of the fruit has been discovered to have antibacterial activity, and is primarily effective against gram negative bacteria[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
]. A methanol extract of the fruit rind has shown a hypoglycaemic and antidiabetic activity, reducing and normalizing blood glucose levels[
2216
Title
Trapa natans (Water Chestnut): An Overview
Publication
IRJP 2012, 3 (6) pp 31-33
Author
Shalabh B., Akash J. & Jasmine C.
Website
http://www.irjponline.com
Publisher
 
Year
2012
ISBN
2230-8407
Description
 
].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is known to fix nitrogen and phosphorus from the water[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
]. It has the potential to be used as a tool to reduce eutrophication, however, the vegetation must be removed annually prior to its decay in order to prevent the subsequent release of these sequestered nutrients back into the water[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].
The plant may also be used in environmental reclamation projects, as it is capable of accumulating heavy metals, although not at levels as high as some other species commonly used in this capacity[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].

Other Uses

The seeds are sometimes used as beads in necklaces and rosaries[
46
Title
Dictionary of Economic Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Uphof. J. C. Th.
Publisher
Weinheim
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
324
Title
Edible Nuts.
Publication
Non-Wood Forest Products, Handbook 5
Author
Wickens G.E.
Website
http://www.fao.org/docrep/
Publisher
FAO, Rome.
Year
1995
ISBN
92-5-103748-5
Description
Detailed information on 20 of the most valuable nut crops, plus more basic information on a wide range of other nut-producing plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

The plant is a potential source of biomass. It has been recommended for use as paper pulp, fertilizer, compost and biofuel[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].

Propagation

The seed can remain viable for up to 10 years at the bottom of a pond, but quickly loses its vitality if it is allowed to become dry. Either sow immediately, or store in jars of cold water. Place one seed in each pot and submerge them under a few centimetres of water.
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-12-30. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Trapa+natans+bispinosa&redir=Trapa+bicornis>

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