Pistia stratiotes

Water Lettuce, Nile cabbage

Araceae Edible: Leaves, Vegetable, Salt Potential hazards — see below 13,495 iNaturalist observations

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Description

A floating herb. This plant looks something like a lettuce and grows on water. The water needs to be stagnant or slow moving. The leaves are produced in a rosette. They are light green. The leaves are hairy and have 7-15 ridges. The plant sends out runners. These end with a tuft of leaves. The leaves overlap and are without stalks. They arise from the same level. Plants are of separate sexes. The female flowers occur singly and are at the base. Male flowers have a single stamen and occur as 2-8 flowers together. They are at the end of the plant.

Edible Uses

While considered edible, Pistia stratiotes is not palatable as it is rich in calcium oxalate crystals that are bitter in taste. Nevertheless, there are records of the plant being utilized as famine food in India during the Great Famine of 1876–1878. The Hausa people of Nigeria used the ash of the plant as a substitute for salt due to its high concentration of potassium chloride, a mineral salt. This salt substitute, also called zakankau, was of high importance, especially when imported salt was unavailable. Caution is advised when consuming Pistia stratiotes, as the plant is a hyperaccumulator, and can absorb and accumulate toxic heavy metals present in its environment. The presence of high concentrations of calcium oxalate crystals can induce various health concerns, such as inhibited mineral absorption and kidney stones. In Singapore and Southern China, Pistia stratiotes is commonly grown or collected as animal feed for ducks and pigs. Water lettuce is also considered an alternative for poultry feed in Indonesia due to its high content of crude protein.

Traditional Uses

The young leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. They are also added to soups. CAUTION: The plant contains stinging oxalate crystals. These can be removed by boiling and changing the cooking water. The plant also accumulates heavy metals in polluted streams. Ash from the burned plants is used as a salt substitute.

Medicinal Uses

Anti-inflammatory properties: Extractions of the leaves of P. stratiotes reduces mast infiltration and degranulation in allergic reactions and presents anti-inflammatory properties. The ethanolic extracts have also been positively correlated with a reduction in inflammatory disorders, such as arthritis and fevers. Antifungal properties: With the popular use of Pistia stratiotes as a traditional treatment for ringworms, researchers have tested P. stratiotes methanolic extracts on dermatophyte fungi. The results of the studies depicted significant fungicidal activity on T. rubrum, T. mentagrophytes, and E. floccosum.

Known Hazards

All parts of the plant contain calcium oxalate crystals plus unknown toxins. Ingestion, in large quantities, can cause an intense burning and swelling of the lips, tongue, and throat; nausea and vomiting. Diarrhoea may also occur.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It is common and widely distributed in low and medium altitudes in the Philippines. It occurs on the surface of stagnant water and slow moving streams. It grows in water fields, lakes, ponds. It occurs in both the tropics and subtropics. It needs temperatures above 12°C. It grows in water rich in nutrients. It is sensitive to frost. It suits hardiness zones 9-11. In Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Africa, Angola, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central America, Chile, China, Congo, Congo R, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba*, Dominican Republic*, East Africa, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guam, Guatemala, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti*, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Laos, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nigeria, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Paraguay, Philippines, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South America*, Sri Lanka, St Helena, Sudan, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies*, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from pieces of the runners. They can also grow from leaves. They can be grown from seeds.

Propagation

Seed - it needs to be kept moist. In nature, the seeds float in the water for a few days, after which they sink and germinate. The seedling appears at the surface in 5 days. Division of the new plants formed at the ends of stolons radiating out from the mother plant.

Other Uses

The plant can be used with soap for taking stains out of clothing, probably because of its potash content. The leaves have insecticidal properties. The plant is used as a manure, especially for its high potash content. Experiments have shown that the plant is a good waste water-cleaning agent, as it takes up nitrogen and phosphorous compounds, as well as heavy metals, and harbours active microbial organisms.

Production

Leaves are available throughout the year.

Other Information

It is a famine food. It is cultivated in some places.

Notes

Plants contain stinging crystals. There is only one Pistia species. It can be invasive.

Synonyms

Pistia occidentalis Blumeand several others

Also Known As

Akasa tamarai, Alface-d'agua, Antara gange, Anthara thamara, Antharai-dhaman, Apon-apon, Apu-apu, Bahata, Borajhanji, Caa pey, Chauk, Da piao, Darahero, Golfo, Gondala, Hmaw, Jalamandvi, Jalashamkhala, Jalkhumbi, Jall khumbi, Jall shamkala, Jaru, Jauk, Kajeng apu, Kambiang, Kang-jao, Kapu-kapu, Kayu apu, Kiambang, Kiapo, Koditamarai, Kudapayal, Kumbhika, Kunhui, Lechuguilla del rio, Llanten de agua, Loloan, Mbutzemelep, Murere, Murere-page, Muttapayal, Nargis, Nirubuduki, Page, Pasta, Prasni, Quiapo, Repollito de agua, Sarebafae, Takapana, Ye-salat

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