Trapa natans var. bispinosa
Trapa natans var. bispinosa, commonly known as the water caltrop, is a unique aquatic perennial valued for its diverse medicinal properties. Rich in bioactive compounds, it is traditionally utilized to treat inflammation, digestive issues, and various ailments, offering significant therapeutic potential within the realms of herbal and traditional medicine.
- Scientific name: Trapa natans var. bispinosa
- Family: Lythraceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, Trapa nataens var. bispinosa, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Myrtales and the family Lythraceae. Ultimately, it is identified by its specific genus, Trapa.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Myrtales | WCVP |
| Family | Lythraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Trapa | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Trapa natans var. bispinosa, is known by various common names depending on the region and language. In Korean, it is referred to as 마름 (mareum), while in Japanese, it is called ヒシ (hishi). In Chinese, the plant is identified as 丘角菱, a name that is consistently used across different regional standards, including the simplified Chinese (zh-cn) and traditional Chinese (zh-tw) writing systems.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ko | 마름 | Wikidata |
| zh | 丘角菱 | Wikidata |
| ja | ヒシ | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 丘角菱 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 丘角菱 | Wikidata |
| zh | 欧菱 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant, Trapa natans var. bispinosa, exhibits a specific distribution pattern across several regions of the African continent. Within West Tropical Africa, it can be found in the nation of Burkina. Its presence extends further within the same climatic zone to include Gambia and Guinea-Bissau. Additionally, the species is documented in the West Tropical Africa region of Nigeria. Finally, its range reaches into West-Central Tropical Africa, specifically within the Central African Republic.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Gambia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea-Bissau | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Central African Republic | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Cameroon | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Congo | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Gabon | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | DR Congo | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Chad | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known scientifically as Trapa natans var. bispinosa, is characterized by its unique reproductive structures that serve various medicinal and nutritional purposes. The most prominent part used is the fruit, which is a woody, nut-like structure often equipped with spines for protection. Within this protective casing, the seeds develop into a highly nutritious water chestnut kernel. These fresh nuts are harvested during the growing season and are prized for their specific properties. Whether consumed as whole fruits or processed into the starchy water chestnut kernel, the different stages of the plant's reproductive cycle provide essential components used in traditional applications.- Total parts
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| water chestnut kernel | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| seeds | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruits | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruit | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fresh nuts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Trapa natans var. bispinosa has 6 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiseptic, Astringent, Bitter, Diuretic, Febrifuge.
- Total activities
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antiseptic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Astringent | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Bitter | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Diuretic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Febrifuge | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Stomachic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |