Nile cabbage
Pistia stratiotes
Also known as Water lettuce, Water Bonnets, Tropical duck-weed
About Nile cabbage
Pistia is a genus of aquatic plants in the arum family, Araceae. It is the sole genus in the tribe Pistieae which reflects its systematic isolation within the family. The single species it comprises, Pistia stratiotes, is often called water cabbage, water lettuce, Nile cabbage, or shellflower. Its native distribution is uncertain but is probably pantropical; it was first scientifically described from plants found on the Nile near Lake Victoria in Africa. It is now present, either naturally or through human introduction, in nearly all tropical and subtropical fresh waterways and is considered an invasive species as well as a mosquito breeding habitat.
Description adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Plant Details
- Scientific name
- Pistia stratiotes
- Genus
- Pistia
- Family
- ARACEAE
- Habit
- Herb
- Native to
- Africa, Asia
- Distribution
- Tropics & sub-tropics of the World
- Flowering & fruiting
- May-February
- Conservation status
- Least Concern (LC)
Local Names
- Hindi
- अन्तरगंगा Antarganga, दलाढक Daladhak, हठ Hath
- Nepali
- जजल कुम्भी Jal Kumbhee, पानी बन्दा Paanee Bandaa, जलकुम्भी
- Bengali
- জলকুম্ভী Jalakumbhi, টাকাপানা Takapana, টোপাপানা
- Tamil
- ஆகாசத்தாமரை Akasha-T-Tamarai, அந்தரத்தாமரை Antara-T-Tamarai, குழித்தாமரை Kuli-T-Tamarai
- Telugu
- అంతరతామర Antara-Tamara, బుడగ తామర Budaga Tamara, ఆకాశతామర Akashatamara
- Kannada
- ಅಂತರಗಂಗೆ Antaragange, ಅಂತರತಾವರೆ Antarataavare, ಕುಂಬಿಕ Kumbika
- Malayalam
- ആകാശത്താമര Akasathamara, കോടപ്പായൽ Kodappayal, മുട്ടപ്പായൽ Muttappayal
- Marathi
- आकाशमूली Akashamuli, गोंडाळ Gondaal, जलमांडवी Jalamandavi
Araceae
Arum family
Nile cabbage belongs to the Araceae family.
The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.
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