Nuphar japonicum
a perennial member of the Nuphar genus in the family Nymphaeaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Nymphaeaceae
- Genus
- Nuphar
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Fertility
- Flies
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Flies
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Root - cooked[1][3]. Used as a famine food, when baked it tastes like sweet chestnuts[4]. The root probably needs to be steeped in water before use in order to remove a bitter flavour[K]. Seed[1][3]. No more details are given but the seed is probably rich in starch and can be ground into a powder then used as a thickener in soups etc[K].
- Plant part
- Root
- Plant part
- Seed
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Digestive, women's complaints[2][4]. Used before and after childbirth, it treats gynecopathy(menoxenia)[2].
- Product or use
- Birthing aid
- Product or use
- Digestive
- Product or use
- Women's complaints
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - Japan.
- Habitat
- Ponds, lakes and shallow streams throughout Japan[7].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light 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 - sow as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse in pots submerged under 25mm of water. Prick out into individual pots as soon as the first true leaf appears and grow them on in water in a greenhouse for at least two years before planting them out in late spring. The seed is collected by wrapping the developing seed head in a muslin bag to avoid the seed being lost. Harvest it 10 days after it sinks below the soil surface or as soon as it reappears[5]. Division in May. Each portion must have at least one eye. Submerge in pots in shallow water until established[6].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
A water plant requiring a rich soil and a sunny position. It is best if grown in still water that is up to 75cm deep but it also tolerates slow moving water[5]. Succeeds in light shade[5].
References
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Kariyone. T. Atlas of Medicinal Plants.
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Muhlberg. H. Complete Guide to Water Plants. E. P. Publishing Ltd. 1982-00-00 ISBN 0-7158-0789-7
Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00