Water chestnut (Sagittaria trifolia var. sinensis)

Japanese: クワイ(慈姑) - クワイ（英語表記）Sagittaria trifolia var. sinensis

A perennial plant of the Albataceae family. It is believed to be a variant of Ardisia crenata (Mendaka), which grows wild in various parts of Japan. Native to China, it was introduced to Japan long ago and is cultivated in various parts of Japan. Long, thin underground branches grow on all four sides from a thick, short tuber, and new, spherical tubers form at the tips of these. This is the arrowhead ball, which is pale blue in color and covered with thin, membranous scales on the surface. It is rich in starch and is edible when boiled. In autumn, it produces numerous white, six-petaled flowers in a panicle on an upright stem. The name "kuwai" is said to mean "edible rush."

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

オモダカ科の多年草。日本各地に野生するオモダカ (面高)の変種とされる。中国原産で古く日本に渡来し各地で栽培される。太く短い塊茎から細長い地中枝を四方に出し，その先端に球形の新しい塊茎ができる。これがくわい玉で表面は薄い膜状の鱗片におおわれ淡い青色，デンプンに富み煮て食用にする。秋，直立する茎に白色6弁の花を多数円錐花序につける。クワイというのは「食えるイグサ」の意味という。

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