Water chestnut family
Description
A small monotypic family of aquatic plants from the Old World with two kinds of leaves: finely divided submerged and broadly diamond-shaped floating leaves (Trapaceae 1). The small flowers are white or lilac, with 4 petals and 4 stamens; and triangular sepals, which fuse with the ovary to form horn-like projections. The fruit is a nut, the water chestnut. The family is closely related to the Family Onagraceae or willow-herb family and is sometimes included in there.
Use
The family yields nuts which are popular in East Asia, Malaysia and India (T. bicornis 1).
Described species
Trapa natans, water chestnut
Trapa bicornis, see Trapa natans