Practical
Plants

Alisma canaliculatum

a perennial member of the Alisma genus in the family Alismataceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Alisma
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.8 m
Fertility
Flies
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Flies

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Although no mention of toxicity has been seen for this plant, the fresh leaves and roots of the closely related A. plantago-aquatica are poisonous, though the toxins are destroyed by thoroughly cooking or drying the plant[[2][5].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young plants - cooked. Used in soups[3]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.

Plant part
Leaves

Environment

Range
E. Asia - S. China, Japan.
Habitat
Wet places all over Japan[6].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
aquatic
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Place the pot in about 3cm of water to keep the soil wet. Pot up the seedlings when large enough to handle and keep in the cold frame for the first winter, planting out in late spring. Division in spring or autumn. Fairly easy, the divisions can be planted straight out into their permanent positions.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in a sunny position in boggy ground or shallow water up to 25cm deep[1][4].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

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  3. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

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  4. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

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  5. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

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  6. Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00

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