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Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Fruit[1]. Soft and pulpy, it is about the size of a small orange[1]. It is highly esteemed in China as a cooling tonic food[2].

Seed - fresh or dried[2][3]. The seed is about the size of a pea, each fruit containing from 8 to 15 seeds[1]. The seed is usually roasted and then eaten[4]. It is also used as a source of starch[2]. A nutritional analysis is available[4].

Very young stalks and rhizomes[1][2]. Rich in starch[1].

Fruit

Material uses

There are no material uses listed for Euryale ferox.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The leaf is used in cases of difficult parturition[4].

All parts of the plant are considered to be astringent, deobstruent and tonic[4].

The seed is a sweet and sour astringent herb that acts as a tonic for the kidney and the spleen[5]. The seed is analgesic and aphrodisiac[4]. It is taken internally in the treatment of chronic diarrhoea, vaginal discharge, kidney weakness associated with frequent urination, impotence, premature and involuntary ejaculation and nocturnal emissions[5][6].

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe, the seed has a short viability and must not be allowed to become dry. Sow the seed in pots in a greenhouse at about 21°c and immerse the pots in water. As soon as they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Euryale ferox. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

A water plant, it requires a rich soil, preferably growing in still water[5]. It can be grown in still or slowly flowing water[3]. In cultivation in temperate greenhouses, the plant is often grown as an annual[3]. It requires about 0.75 cubic metres of root run[3].

This species is not very cold hardy. One report says that it succeeds in zone 8[3] which would mean that it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c but this must be viewed with some doubt. It is unlikely to succeed outdoors in Britain, at least when grown as a perennial[K].

Frequently cultivated as an edible plant in China and India, the seeds are normally available in Chinatown markets in the West[2].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Euryale ferox. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Euryale ferox.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Euryale ferox
Genus
Euryale
Family
Euryalaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
Medicinal uses
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
  • Fruit (Unknown use)
  • Seed (Unknown use)
  • Stem (Unknown use)
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
  • Unknown part (Analgesic)
  • Unknown part (Aphrodisiac)
  • Unknown part (Astringent)
  • Unknown part (Deobstruent)
  • Unknown part (Oxytoxic)
  • Unknown part (Tonic)
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
8
Heat Zone
?
Water
aquatic
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
Soil Texture
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    1 x 3 meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    ?
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type











    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.41.5 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.12.22.32.42.5 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.13.23.33.43.5 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.24.34.44.54.6 Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4 (1985-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.25.3 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.1 Medicinal Plants in the Republic of Korea World Health Organisation, Manila ISBN 92 9061 120 0 (1998-00-00)
    7. ? Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution (1965-00-00)
    8. ? [Flora of China] (1994-00-00)