Water chestnut (Trapa japonica)

Japanese: ヒシ(菱) - ヒシ（英語表記）Trapa japonica

It is an aquatic plant of the family Trachycarpa, and is widely distributed in the temperate zone of eastern Asia. It grows wild in ponds and marshes throughout Japan. It spreads its roots in the mud, and its stems grow according to the water depth, with the tops reaching the water surface and producing numerous leaves. Thin, pinnate roots appear at each node of the stem. The leaves are half diamond-shaped, half triangular, with sawtooth and a glossy surface. The petioles are somewhat swollen and buoyant. In summer, it produces white flowers about 1 cm in diameter among the leaves. There are four petals and sepals, and a yellow disk in the center. After flowering, it produces a drupe with thorns on both sides. The seeds are called "diamond fruits" and are edible. It is also sometimes placed in the family Onagraceae rather than being a separate family.

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

Japanese:

ヒシ科の水草でアジア東部の温帯に広く分布する。日本各地の池沼に自生する。泥中に根を張り，水深に応じて茎を伸ばし，上端は水面に達して多数の葉をつける。茎の節ごとに羽状に裂けた細い根を出す。葉は菱形半分の三角形で，鋸歯があり，表面は光沢がある。葉柄は多少ふくらんで浮力をもつ。夏に，葉の間に径 1cmほどの白花をつける。花弁，萼片ともに4枚で中心に黄色の花盤がある。花後，両側にとげのある核果をつける。種子は「菱の実」と呼んで食用とする。なおヒシ科を独立させずにアカバナ科に入れることもある。

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