Practical
Plants

Stratiotes aloides

Water Soldier

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

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.

The herb has had a high reputation for treating wounds, especially when these are made by an iron implement. It is applied externally[3]. The plant is also said to be of use in the treatment of St. Anthony's Fire and also of bruised kidneys[3].

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, to northwestern Asia.
Habitat
Broads, ponds and ditches in calcareous districts[1]. It is very local and probably diminishing[1].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - best sown in situ as soon as it is ripe. The seed is seldom if ever produced in Britain[1]. Division at almost any time of the year, though spring is best.

Cultivation

A water plant, it requires a neutral to alkaline water[2]. The herb is submerged at most times of the year, rising to the surface only when it is flowering[1]. The leaves accumulate calcium carbonate and by the autumn this makes them heavy enough to sink to the bottom of the pond. The new leaves in spring do not have this calcium carbonate and so rise to the surface[2]. A vigorous-growing plant, it will tend to swamp out other plants when grown in a small pond[2]. Plants are dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required[1]. Only the female plant occurs naturally in Britain, though plants with hermaphrodite flowers are also found occasionally[1]. Seed is never set in Britain, the plants increasing mainly by offsets[1].

References

  1. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2

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