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Nymphoides peltata

Common name:	Water Fringe	Family:	Menyanthaceae
Author:	(Gmelin.)Kuntze.	Botanical references:	17, 200
Synonyms:	Limnanthemum peltatum (S.G.Gmel.), Limnanthemum nymphoides ((L.)Hoffsgg.& Link.)
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	Europe, including Britain, from Sweden south and east to Spain, N. and W. Asia to Japan.
Habitat:	Water margins of ponds and slow moving water[17].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	2	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	2

Other Possible Synonyms:	From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
	N. nymphaeoides[B,P]
Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	Chin So T'Ien [E], Fu K'Uei [E], H'Sing Ts'Ai [E], Hsing Ts'Ai [E], Hui T'Iao [E], Hui T'Iao Ts'Ai [E], Shui K'Uei [E], Watergentiaan [D], Yellow Floatingheart [B,P],
Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	peltata = shield like, peltate
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Solanales. Buckbean family
Other Range Info:	From the Ethnobotany Database
	China

Physical Characteristics

Perennial. It is hardy to zone 6. It is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The scented flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees and Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies). We rate it 2/5 for edibility and 2/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. The plant prefers neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It can grow in water.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Pond.

Edible Uses

Flowers Leaves Seed.

Leaves and leaf stems - cooked as a potherb[2, 178, 179, 183]. The interior of the stem is eaten, it is highly esteemed[145, 178]. The leaves are not very palatable[K].
Flower buds - cooked as a potherb[105, 183].
Seed[178]. No further details are given.

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Anthelmintic Diuretic Febrifuge Galactogogue Skin.

Anthelmintic, diuretic, febrifuge, galactogogue, skin. The fresh leaves are used in the treatment of periodic headaches[145, 178, 240].
The plant is diuretic, febrifuge and refrigerant[218]. It is bruised and used in the treatment of burns, fevers, ulcers, snake bites and swellings[218]. The plant contains rutin, but no details are given of the quantity[218].

Other Uses

None known

Cultivation details

A water plant growing readily in shallow water in a rich loam[1]. It can be very invasive in a rich soil[56]. Prefers a sunny position[200]. Dislikes acid conditions.
The flowers have a delicate, almond-like perfume[245].

Propagation

Seed - sow as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse in pots submerged under 25mm of water. Prick out into individual pots as soon as the first true leaf appears and grow them on in water in a greenhouse for at least two years before planting them out in late spring.
The seed is collected by wrapping the developing seed head in a muslin bag to avoid the seed being lost. Harvest it 10 days after it sinks below the soil surface or as soon as it reappears[200].
Division in May. Each portion must have at least one eye. Submerge in pots in shallow water until established[56].

Scent

Flowers: Fresh: The flowers have a delicate, almond-like perfume[245].

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[B] Data (Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for Limnanthemum nymphoides (a possible synonym).

[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.

References for Limnanthemum peltatum (a possible synonym).

[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.

References for the family Menyanthaceae.

[CHINA] Data Very detailed botanical/identification info. from the Flora of China.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[2] Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.

[17] Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.

[56] Muhlberg. H. Complete Guide to Water Plants. E. P. Publishing Ltd. 1982 ISBN 0-7158-0789-7
Deals with a wide range of plants for temperate areas (and indoor aquaria) with quite a lot of information on cultivation techniques.

[105] Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976
The most comprehensive guide to edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.

[145] Singh. Dr. G. and Kachroo. Prof. Dr. P. Forest Flora of Srinagar. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh 1976
A good flora of the western Himalayas but poorly illustrated. Some information on plant uses.

[178] Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre
A translation of an ancient Chinese herbal. Fascinating.

[179] Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977
A translation of an ancient Chinese book on edible wild foods. Fascinating.

[183] Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[218] Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.

[240] 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
Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.

[245] Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.

Readers Comments

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
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