Eleocharis dulcis is tropical Asian aquatic sedge having an edible corm
and cylindrical leaves. The succulent corm of this plant ist used in
Asian cooking.
This is NOT to be confused with the aquatic invasive European water chestnut (Trapa natans)!
Asian water chestnuts (Eleocharis dulcis) and European water chestnuts (Trapa natans) are two unrelated water plants that carry the same name.
The Asian water chestnut resembles a small muddy tulip bulb and is sweet and crunchy; the European water chestnut resembles a tiny horned bull’s head and is quite starchy.
Americans are most familiar with the Chinese water chestnut. Chinese water chestnuts grow underwater in mud, have brown or black scale-like leaves, and are round, though somewhat flattened. They are the roots of an aquatic plant that grows in freshwater ponds, marshes, lakes, and slow-moving rivers and streams in Japan, Taiwan, China, Thailand, and Australia. They are difficult to harvest, explaining their generally high price. Chinese water chestnuts have mildly sweet, crisp, white flesh and are excellent raw on skewers with dip/
This is NOT to be confused with the aquatic invasive European water chestnut (Trapa natans)!
Asian water chestnuts (Eleocharis dulcis) and European water chestnuts (Trapa natans) are two unrelated water plants that carry the same name.
The Asian water chestnut resembles a small muddy tulip bulb and is sweet and crunchy; the European water chestnut resembles a tiny horned bull’s head and is quite starchy.
Americans are most familiar with the Chinese water chestnut. Chinese water chestnuts grow underwater in mud, have brown or black scale-like leaves, and are round, though somewhat flattened. They are the roots of an aquatic plant that grows in freshwater ponds, marshes, lakes, and slow-moving rivers and streams in Japan, Taiwan, China, Thailand, and Australia. They are difficult to harvest, explaining their generally high price. Chinese water chestnuts have mildly sweet, crisp, white flesh and are excellent raw on skewers with dip/
The
European water chestnut or water caltrop has seed capsules with four
spikes and is named after the caltrop, a vicious medieval weapon with
four iron points. This hard-shelled ebony black fruit has two
prominent, down curved horns resembling a bull’s head and a woody,
sculptured surface that looks like a face or a bat. It grows abundantly
in Indonesia, Southeast Asia, southern China, Japan, Italy, and
tropical America. Its Chinese name, ling ko, means “spiritual horn.”
Storage:
Store water chestnuts, unwashed and unpeeled, in a loosely closed paper
or plastic bag in the refrigerator crisper for up to 2 weeks. Keep
water caltrops in a cool, dry place.
To Grow: Easy
to grow in a tub filled with dirt about 4" high . Water to 2" above
soil level. Consider appropriate spacing as each corm produces quickly
about 8-10 new corms. The closer they sit the harder it is to separate
them.
To Buy:
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