Oval-leaf pondweed (Monochoria vaginalis)

35_Oval-leaf Flowers_smweb

Common Names
Oval-leaf pondweed, pickerel weed (En); pontédérie (Fr); monochoria (Sp); 學菜, 鴨舌草 (Cn)

Plant Distribution
East, South, and Southeast Asia, Oceania

Edible Parts
Leaves with petioles are eaten boiled; inflorescences are used fresh as salad.

Health values
Beta-carotene: low to medium in shoots; vitamin E: low in stems, high in leaves; folic acid: low in stems, medium in leaves; ascorbic acid: low in stems, extremely high in leaves; calcium: low in stems, medium in leaves; iron: low in stems, high in leaves; protein: 1.0% in stems, 4.0% in leaves.

Read more: Oval leaf pondweed, in Discovering Indigenous Treasures: Promising Indigenous Vegetables from Around the World. 2009. AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center.