Trapa natans
Common names
water chestnut
Biostatus
Exotic
Conservation status
Not applicable
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
Flower colours
White
Detailed description
Water chestnut has broad, toothed, diamond-shaped upper leaves which form tight floating rosettes. The leaves connect to the stem by swollen stalks just below the leaf blades. The thin limp stems give rise to long, narrow or feather-shaped underwater leaves and are rooted in the sediment. The fruit is a hard, woody nut with two to four sharp spines.
Similar taxa
Easily distinguished by clusters of toothed, diamond-shaped floating leaves.
Habitat
Lakes, ponds, canals, and slow water. Not known to NZ but a major weed overseas (Paul Champion NIWA)
Detailed taxonomy
Genus
Family
Ecology
Year naturalised
Not in NZ
Origin
Asia
Life cycle and dispersal
Perennial.