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Vallisneria americana - Michx.                
                 
Common Name Water Celery
Family Hydrocharitaceae
Synonyms V. gigantea. Gaertn.
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Quiet waters[204]. Lakes and slow flowing streams[274]. Fresh to brackish waters of streams, lakes, rivers, and bays from sea level to 500 metres[270].
Range E. Asia. Eastern N. America - N. Dakota to S. Manitoba and Quebec.
Edibility Rating  
Medicinal Rating  
Care
Half Hardy Water Plants Full sun

Summary       

Physical Characteristics       
 
Vallisneria americana is an evergreen Perennial.
It is hardy to zone 9. It is in leaf 12-Jan It is in flower from Jul to September. The flowers are dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required) and are pollinated by Water.The plant is not self-fertile.


Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It can grow in water.
Vallisneria americana Water Celery


R.A. Howard @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Vallisneria americana Water Celery
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. 3 vols. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. Vol. 1
   
Habitats       
 Pond;
Edible Uses                                         
Edible Parts: Leaves.
Edible Uses:

Young leaves - cooked[105, 177].
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 for a large aquarium or for deep water outdoors[1], it prefers slightly acid conditions in a sunny position[200]. This species is not very hardy in Britain, though it should succeed outdoors in the mildest areas of the country[200]. A valuable water oxygenator[200]. The leaves can be up to 1 metre long[1]. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. Male flowers are produced below the surface of the water and females are produced on the surface. Fertilization takes place when male flowers break off the plant, float to the surface and fall into a slight depression formed by the female flowers on the surface of the water[274].
                                                                                 
Propagation                                         
Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing the seed in a warm greenhouse as soon as it is ripe. Lay the seed on the surface of a pot of soil and immerse this in water. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in water in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division of rooted runners in the growing season.
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Expert comment                                         
 
      
Author                                         
Michx.
                                                                                 
Botanical References                                         
200204270
                                                                                 
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]).
[105]Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World.
The most comprehensive guide to edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.
[177]Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption.
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
[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.
[204]Livingstone. B. Flora of Canada
In 4 volumes, it does not deal with plant uses but gives descriptions and habitats.
[270] Flora of N. America
An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.
[274]Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas
An excellent flora, which is also available on-line.

Readers comment                                         
 
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Subject : Vallisneria americana  
             

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