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Vallisneria spiralis
  • Eel Grass

a perennial evergreen member of the Vallisneria genus in the family Hydrocharitaceae.

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,alkaline
    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
  • 8
    Zone 8
    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
Vallisneria spiralis has 0 edible uses listed
Vallisneria spiralis has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Young leaves - raw[1][2][3]. The dried leaves contain 14.1% ash, 1154mg calcium, 3205mg phosphorus and 141mg iron per 100g[4].

Leaves

Unknown use

Material uses

There are no material uses listed for Vallisneria spiralis.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The plant is aperitif, demulcent, refrigerant, stomachic and is also used in the treatment of women's complaints[5][4][6]. The plant is used in the treatment of leucorrhoea[5][4] and is made into a tea with Sesame (Sesamum indicum) to improve the appetite[4].

Unknown part

Appetizer
Demulcent
Refrigerant
Stomachic
Women's complaints

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

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.

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



Cultivation

A water plant for a large aquarium or for deep water outdoors[7], it prefers slightly acid conditions in a sunny position[8].

This species is not very hardy in Britain, though it should succeed outdoors in the mildest areas of the country[8]. A valuable water oxygenator[8]. The leaves can be up to 1 metre long[7].

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[9].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Vallisneria spiralis. 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 Vallisneria spiralis.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Vallisneria spiralis
Genus
Vallisneria
Family
Hydrocharitaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4]
Medicinal uses
[5][4][6]
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
[10][8]
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
8
Heat Zone
?
Water
aquatic
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
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
    evergreen
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    x meters
    Fertility
    self sterile
    Pollinators
    Water
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    dioecious











    References

    1. ? 1.01.1 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.24.34.44.5 Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4 (1985-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.2 Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre ()
    6. ? 6.06.1 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)
    7. ? 7.07.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.18.28.3 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    9. ? Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J [Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas] Botanical Research Institute, Texas. (1999-00-00)
    10. ? ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press (1964-00-00)

    Cite error: <ref> tag with name "PFAFimport-17" defined in <references> is not used in prior text.


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    Facts about "Vallisneria spiralis"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyHydrocharitaceae +
    Belongs to genusVallisneria +
    Has common nameEel Grass +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partLeaves +
    Has edible useUnknown use +
    Has fertility typeSelf sterile + and Water +
    Has flowers of typeDioecious +
    Has hardiness zone8 +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAppetizer +, Demulcent +, Refrigerant +, Stomachic + and Women's complaints +
    Has search namevallisneria spiralis + and x +
    Has shade toleranceNo shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameVallisneria spiralis +
    Has water requirementsaquatic +
    Is deciduous or evergreenEvergreen +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +