Uses
Toxic parts
The plant is rich in calcium oxylate, this is toxic and if consumed makes the mouth and digestive tract feel as though hundreds of needles are being stuck into it. However, calcium oxylate is easily destroyed by thoroughly cooking or drying the plant.
Edible uses
Notes
Root - cooked. It must be soaked in cold water for some hours in order to remove an acrid taste[1][2]. The fresh root contains calcium oxalate and, when eaten raw, will produce an effect on the mouth similar to being pricked with hundreds of small needles. As long as the root is well cooked the calcium oxalate is broken down and the root is perfectly safe to eat[3][4]. Drying the root also breaks down the calcium oxalate and makes the root safe to eat[5]. The dried roots can also be ground into a powder and used with flour in making bread, biscuits etc[6]. The root is deep seated in the mud and difficult to extract[7].
Seed - dried[8][7]. The seed must be soaked first in order to remove an acrid taste[1][4][2]. Repeated boiling in changes of water are necessary to render the seeds edible[3]. They have a taste like peas[6].
Root
Seed
Material uses
There are no material uses listed for Orontium aquaticum.Medicinal uses(Warning!)
There are no medicinal uses listed for Orontium aquaticum.Ecology
Ecosystem niche/layer
Ecological Functions
Nothing listed.
Forage
Nothing listed.
Shelter
Nothing listed.
Propagation
Seed - best sown as soon as ripe in submerged containers in a cold frame[9]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in trays of water in the cold frame for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. The seed develops on the plant underwater in small green berries[10].
Division in spring[10]. Very easy, the divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions.
Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Orontium aquaticum. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.
Cultivation
Succeeds in the bog garden or pond margins up to 45cm deep[11][10], but plants do less well if they are not grown in water[9]. Requires a fertile loamy soil in full sun[10].
Plant the rootstock in at least 30cm of soil[8]. Another report says that the plant should be under at least 15cm of water[12]. Plants are hardy to -15°c[10] in one report, to -20°c in another[13], though another says they they may require protection in harsh winters[11].
A most unpleasant animal smell is emitted from the flowers[12].Crops
Problems, pests & diseases
Associations & Interactions
There are no interactions listed for Orontium aquaticum. 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 Orontium aquaticum.
Descendants
Cultivars
Varieties
None listed.
Subspecies
None listed.
Full Data
This table shows all the data stored for this plant.
Taxonomy
Binomial name
Orontium aquaticum
Genus
Orontium
Family
Araceae
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
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
Fertility
?
Pollinators
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type
References
- ? 1.01.11.2 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
- ? 2.02.12.2 Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture. ()
- ? 3.03.13.2 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
- ? 4.04.14.2 Harris. B. C. Eat the Weeds. Pivot Health (1973-00-00)
- ? 5.05.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
- ? 6.06.16.2 Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. ISBN 0-8160-2624-6 (1993-00-00)
- ? 7.07.17.2 Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-23310-3 (1976-00-00)
- ? 8.08.18.2 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
- ? 9.09.1 Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-86318-386-7 (1990-00-00)
- ? 10.010.110.210.310.410.5 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
- ? 11.011.1 Muhlberg. H. Complete Guide to Water Plants. E. P. Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-7158-0789-7 (1982-00-00)
- ? 12.012.1 Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. ISBN 0-7090-5440-8 (1994-00-00)
- ? Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books ISBN 0-330-30936-9 (1991-00-00)
- ? Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. (1950-00-00)
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