Species
Trapa natans
Common Name(s)
water chestnut
Family
Trapaceae
Flora Category
Vascular - Exotic
Structural Class
Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites
Habitat
Lakes, ponds, canals, and slow water. Not known to NZ but a major weed overseas (Paul Champion NIWA)
Features
Water chestnut has broad, toothed, diamond-shaped upper leaves which form tight floating rosettes. The leaves connect to the stem by swollen stalks just below the leaf blades. The thin limp stems give rise to long, narrow or feather-shaped underwater leaves and are rooted in the sediment. The fruit is a hard, woody nut with two to four sharp spines.
Similar Taxa
Easily distinguished by clusters of toothed, diamond-shaped floating leaves.
Flower Colours
White
Year Naturalised
Not in NZ
Origin
Asia
Life Cycle Comments
Perennial.
This page last updated on 28 Jul 2014