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Trapa natans
  • Water Chestnut

a perennial member of the Trapa genus in the family Trapaceae.

248px
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsaquatic
    Aquatic
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 5
    Zone 5
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Trapa natans has 0 edible uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

The raw seed contains toxins but that these are destroyed in the cooking process[1][2].

Edible uses

Notes

Seed - raw, cooked or dried and ground into a powder[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. A sweet floury and agreeable flavour[11], similar to sweet chestnuts (Castanea spp)[12]. The seed contains up to 50% starch according to one report[13], 16% starch, 3% protein in another report[14] and 15% protein, 7.5% fat in a third[9]. (Are all these reports talking about the same thing?). One report says that the raw nut contains toxins that are destroyed by cooking the seed[1].

Seed

Unknown use

Material uses

There are no material uses listed for Trapa natans.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

There are no medicinal uses listed for Trapa natans.

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - harvest in late summer and store overwinter in a jar of water in a cold but frost-free place. The seed quickly loses its vitality if it is allowed to become dry. Sow in spring, placing one seed in each pot and submerging them under a few centimetres of water.

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



Cultivation

A water plant, growing in water up to 60cm deep. Requires a sunny position in slightly acidic water[1]. Dislikes calcium rich water[15]. Prefers a rich soil[15][7][1].

Plants are hardy in all but the coldest parts of Britain[16]. A perennial, but it is best grown as an annual in Britain[4]. Some botanists regard this species as the only genuine member of the genus, all other species considered to be no more than a part of this one highly polymorphic species[1].

Occasionally cultivated for its edible seed, there is at least one named variety[16][4][5]. 'Su Zhou' is a form with red-coloured fruit[12].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Trapa natans. 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 Trapa natans.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Trapa natans
Genus
Trapa
Family
Trapaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][1]
Medicinal uses
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
[15][1]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
5
Heat Zone
?
Water
aquatic
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
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
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    x 0.25 meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    ?
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

    "image:Illustration Trapa natans0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Illustration Trapa natans0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Illustration Trapa natans0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Illustration Trapa natans0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Illustration Trapa natans0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Illustration Trapa natans0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Illustration Trapa natans0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Illustration Trapa natans0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Illustration Trapa natans0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Illustration Trapa natans0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Illustration Trapa natans0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Illustration Trapa natans0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Illustration Trapa natans0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.41.51.6 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    2. ? Larkcom J. Oriental Vegetables John Murray ISBN 0-7195-4781-4 (1991-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.1 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.24.3 Simmons. A. E. Growing Unusual Fruit. David and Charles ISBN 0-7153-5531-7 (1972-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.2 Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-33545-3 (1975-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.1 Harrison. S. Wallis. M. Masefield. G. The Oxford Book of Food Plants. Oxford University Press (1975-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.17.2 Muhlberg. H. Complete Guide to Water Plants. E. P. Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-7158-0789-7 (1982-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.1 Howes. F. N. Nuts. Faber (1948-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.19.2 Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation (1968-00-00)
    10. ? 10.010.1 Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press ISBN 0192176218 (1969-00-00)
    11. ? 11.011.1 Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8 ()
    12. ? 12.012.112.2 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    13. ? 13.013.1 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
    14. ? 14.014.1 Rosengarten. jnr. F. The Book of Edible Nuts. Walker & Co. ISBN 0802707699 (1984-00-00)
    15. ? 15.015.115.2 ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press (1964-00-00)
    16. ? 16.016.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)

    "image:Illustration Trapa natans0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Trapa_natans&oldid=81337"
    Facts about "Trapa natans"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyTrapaceae +
    Belongs to genusTrapa +
    Has binomial nameTrapa natans +
    Has common nameWater Chestnut +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partSeed +
    Has edible useUnknown use +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone5 +
    Has imageIllustration Trapa natans0.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has mature width0.25 +
    Has primary imageIllustration Trapa natans0.jpg +
    Has search nametrapa natans + and water chestnut +
    Has shade toleranceNo shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid + and Neutral +
    Has soil texture preferenceSandy +, Loamy + and Clay +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
    Has taxonomy nameTrapa natans +
    Has water requirementsaquatic +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF material use notes migratedYes +
    PFAF medicinal use notes migratedYes +
    PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF toxicity notes migratedNo +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
    Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Trapa natans +