Water caltrop.

De un vistazo

Nivel de cuidados

Media

Tipo de planta

Aquatic annual

Luz

Full sun

Luz en interior

Sol directo

Riego

Cada 0 días

Tamaño adulto

2 to 3 feet wide

Ritmo de crecimiento

Rápido

Rusticidad

USDA 6 a 10

Floración

Mid to late summer

Cuidados

Keep this plant in a sunny, calm body of water with plenty of nutrient rich mud at the base. Watch for rapid spread, as it can quickly overtake small water features if left unchecked. Ensure the water remains still, as moving water can hinder its growth.

Riego

This is an aquatic plant that must remain submerged in water at all times.

Abonado

Use aquatic plant fertilizer tablets pressed into the mud near the roots during the growing season.

Poda

Remove excess rosettes regularly to prevent the plant from covering the entire surface of your pond.

Trasplante

Fresh seeds or young plants should be placed in new mud at the start of each spring season.

Suelo

Rich organic mud

pH del suelo

6.0 to 8.0

Temperatura

10 a 30°C

Humedad

70 a 100%

Seguridad

Personas

Raw seeds contain tannins and potential toxins that require careful preparation.

Niños

Keep children away from the water where this grows, as the sharp, spiny fruits are a significant puncture hazard.

Alérgenos por contacto

The sharp spines on the fruit can cause painful physical injury and skin irritation.

Alérgenos en el aire

There are no notable airborne allergens associated with this plant.

Comestibilidad

The seeds must be thoroughly cooked before consumption to neutralize potential toxins.

Cómo identificarla

• Floating rosettes of diamond shaped leaves
• Serrated leaf margins
• Inflated spongy leaf stalks
• Four pronged woody nut fruits
• Small white four petaled flowers

Altura

0m

Anchura

0,6 a 1,5m

Hojas

green, bronze, deciduous

Flores

white, 1 a 2cm

Frutos

black, brown, Autumn

Problemas frecuentes

• Invasive spread — The plant can rapidly choke out native aquatic vegetation and block waterways.

Cómo cultivarla

Propagación

seed

Cuándo plantar

Spring

This plant is highly competitive and usually dominates its space, so it is best kept in isolated containers.

Buenas compañeras

• Nymphaea — They share similar aquatic habitat requirements.

Especies parecidas

• Eleocharis dulcis — Often confused due to the common name, though they are entirely different plants.

Ciencia

Familia

Lythraceae

Género

Trapa

Orden

Myrtales

Clase

Magnoliopsida

Distribución natural

Eurasia and Africa

Conservación

It is considered an invasive species in many regions outside its native range and should not be introduced to new water bodies.

It thrives in stagnant or slow moving freshwater, forming dense mats that shade out other aquatic life.

Valor para la fauna

provides cover for aquatic life

Polinizadores

abejas, escarabajos

Usos

ornamental pond plant, culinary starch source

Taxonomía cotejada con GBIF.

Lo que más preguntan

Is it safe to grow in a garden pond?

It is generally discouraged due to its aggressive growth and the danger posed by its sharp, spiny fruits.

How do I control it?

Physical removal of the plants before they set seed is the most effective method.

De dónde viene el nombre

The genus name Trapa is derived from the Latin word for a caltrop, a spiked military weapon that matches the fruit shape. The species name natans means floating.

Bueno saberlo

• The seeds are often called water caltrops or devil pods.
• It is an annual plant that grows floating on the water surface.
• The seeds are rich in starch and have been used as a food source for centuries.