Vallisneria spiralis
Eel Grass
a perennial evergreen member of the Vallisneria genus in the family Hydrocharitaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Hydrocharitaceae
- Genus
- Vallisneria
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- evergreen
- Fertility
- Self sterile, Water
- Flower type
- dioecious
- Pollinators
- Water
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Young leaves - raw[9][11][2]. The dried leaves contain 14.1% ash, 1154mg calcium, 3205mg phosphorus and 141mg iron per 100g[6].
- Plant part
- Leaves
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.
The plant is aperitif, demulcent, refrigerant, stomachic and is also used in the treatment of women's complaints[4][6][7]. The plant is used in the treatment of leucorrhoea[4][6] and is made into a tea with Sesame (Sesamum indicum) to improve the appetite[6].
- Product or use
- Appetizer
- Product or use
- Demulcent
- Product or use
- Refrigerant
- Product or use
- Stomachic
- Product or use
- Women's complaints
Environment
- Range
- Southern Europe, north to France south to the tropics. Naturalized in Britain[3].
- Habitat
- Still and flowing water[10]. In Britain it is found in ponds that are heated by the effluent from mills[3].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- aquatic
- Hardiness
- Zone 8+
- 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 - 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.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
A water plant for a large aquarium or for deep water outdoors[1], it prefers slightly acid conditions in a sunny position[5]. This species is not very hardy in Britain, though it should succeed outdoors in the mildest areas of the country[5]. A valuable water oxygenator[5]. 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[8].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
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
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00
Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202