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Trapa natans - L.                
                 
Common Name Water Chestnut
Family Trapaceae
Synonyms
Known Hazards The raw seed contains toxins but that these are destroyed in the cooking process[200, 206].
Habitats Water up to 60cm deep.
Range Europe to W. Asia and N. Africa.
Edibility Rating  
Medicinal Rating  
Care
Fully Hardy Water Plants Full sun

Summary       

Physical Characteristics       
 
Trapa natans is a PERENNIAL.
It is hardy to zone 5. It is in flower from Jun to July. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs)


Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: acid and neutral soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It can grow in water.
Trapa natans Water Chestnut


commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Illustration_Trapa_natans1.jpg
Trapa natans Water Chestnut
biolib.de
   
Habitats       
 Pond;
Edible Uses                                         
Edible Parts: Seed.
Edible Uses:

Seed - raw, cooked or dried and ground into a powder[2, 3, 13, 34, 56, 63, 74, 100]. A sweet floury and agreeable flavour[27], similar to sweet chestnuts (Castanea spp)[183]. The seed contains up to 50% starch according to one report[46], 16% starch, 3% protein in another report[117] and 15% protein, 7.5% fat in a third[74]. (Are all these reports talking about the same thing?). One report says that the raw nut contains toxins that are destroyed by cooking the seed[200].
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.



None known
Other Uses
None known
Cultivation details                                         
A water plant, growing in water up to 60cm deep. Requires a sunny position in slightly acidic water[200]. Dislikes calcium rich water[50]. Prefers a rich soil[50, 56, 200]. Plants are hardy in all but the coldest parts of Britain[1]. A perennial, but it is best grown as an annual in Britain[3]. Some botanists regard this species as the only genuine member of the genus, all other species considered to be no more than a part of this one highly polymorphic species[200]. Occasionally cultivated for its edible seed, there is at least one named variety[1, 3, 13]. 'Su Zhou' is a form with red-coloured fruit[183].
                                                                                 
Propagation                                         
Seed - harvest in late summer and store overwinter in a jar of water in a cold but frost-free place. The seed quickly loses its vitality if it is allowed to become dry. Sow in spring, placing one seed in each pot and submerging them under a few centimetres of water.
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Expert comment                                         
 
      
Author                                         
L.
                                                                                 
Botanical References                                         
50200
                                                                                 
Links / References                                         

[1]F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
[2]Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World.
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
[3]Simmons. A. E. Growing Unusual Fruit.
A very readable book with information on about 100 species that can be grown in Britain (some in greenhouses) and details on how to grow and use them.
[13]Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants.
Very interesting reading, giving some details of plant uses and quite a lot of folk-lore.
[27]Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden.
A reprint of a nineteenth century classic, giving details of vegetable varieties. Not really that informative though.
[34]Harrison. S. Wallis. M. Masefield. G. The Oxford Book of Food Plants.
Good drawings of some of the more common food plants from around the world. Not much information though.
[46]Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants.
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.
[50]? Flora Europaea
An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. Not for the casual reader.
[56]Muhlberg. H. Complete Guide to Water Plants.
Deals with a wide range of plants for temperate areas (and indoor aquaria) with quite a lot of information on cultivation techniques.
[63]Howes. F. N. Nuts.
Rather old but still a masterpiece. Has sections on tropical and temperate plants with edible nuts plus a section on nut plants in Britain. Very readable.
[74]Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR.
An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers.
[100]Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide.
An excellent and well illustrated pocket guide for those with very large pockets. Also gives some details on plant uses.
[117]Rosengarten. jnr. F. The Book of Edible Nuts.
A very readable and comprehensive guide. Well illustrated.
[183]Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
[200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

Readers comment                                         
 
Elizabeth H.
michele Sun Mar 4 2007
i would like to have the seeds of tis plant. how is it possible? thnaks michele micvite@tin.it
Elizabeth H.
Ken Fern, Plants for a Future. Mon Mar 5 2007
Unfortunately, the seeds of this plant need to be kept moist otherwise they quickly lose their viability. For this reason, there are no seed suppliers that I am aware of. There are a few nurseries that supply the plant - the only one I know of is in Britain, though it does mail order to all countries in the European Union. For details of this nursery visit the Plant Finder at http://www.rhs.org.uk/RHSPlantFinder/plantfinder.asp
Elizabeth H.
HK Tue Jan 29 2008
I am not sure about the criteria, but I really think you guys need somebody who is familiar with TCM, Kampo or whatever. Just because you guys don't know does not mean that a given species does not have any notable medicinal property or importance in indigenous medicine. I just keep encountering this over and over here.
Elizabeth H.
Keith Mon Aug 11 2008
Also can be highly opportunistic (ie. 'invasive')- http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080805/NEWS01/80804013

Burlington Free Press Article Article about efforts 'combating' water chestnut

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