Trapa japonica

Fleron.

LythraceaeFruitSeeds/NutsScore: 41/100Potential hazards — see below

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(c) 空猫 T. N, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by 空猫 T. N

iNaturalist · cc-by
(c) Kim, Hyun-tae, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Kim, Hyun-tae

What to Eat

Edible parts: Seeds, Fruit

The seed can be eaten raw or cooked. Some caution is advised regarding toxicity.

Known Hazards

Where to Find It

It is a temperate plant.

Asia, China, Europe, Japan, Korea, Mediterranean,

Countries: Andorra, United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bahrain, Brunei, Bhutan, Belarus, Switzerland, China, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Algeria, Estonia, Egypt, Spain, Finland, France, United Kingdom, Georgia, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, India, Iraq, Iran, Iceland, Italy, Jordan, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Sri Lanka, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Libya, Morocco, Monaco, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Myanmar, Mongolia, Malta, Maldives, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Nepal, Oman, Philippines, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Serbia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Singapore, Slovenia, Slovakia, San Marino, Syria, Thailand, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Taiwan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen

How to Identify

An annual aquatic plant. Hermaphroditic. Grows in light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils with mildly acidic to neutral pH. Requires full sun and can grow submerged in water.

Nutrition Score: 41/100

Part	Moisture	kJ	kcal	Protein	Vit A	Vit C	Iron	Zinc
Fruit	69	453	108	6.3	—	—	—	—

How to Grow

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy outdoors in Britain. However, judging by the plants native range, it is likely to succeed outdoors at least in the warmer areas of the country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. An aquatic plant, floating by means of inflated petioles, it succeeds in still or slowly-flowing water requiring a position in full sun and a slightly acidic water with a rich planting medium. Plants require a high summer temperature in order to perform well, they are not frost hardy.

Propagation: Harvest seed in late summer and store it overwinter in a jar of water in a cool but frost-free location. The seed loses viability rapidly if allowed to dry out. In spring, sow one seed per pot and submerge under a few centimetres of water.

Medicinal Uses

None known

Other Uses