Fabaceae / Papilionaceae

271
Araceae
Pistia stratioites L.
English name: Water Lettuce.
Local name: Jaaru.
Description:
A floating perennial, stoloniferous, aquatic herb. Leaves in rosettes. Flowering
during the hot season, the species has appearance of half-grown lettuce plants.
Flowering Period:
Summer.
Habitat:
Hydrophytic. Found floating in the tanks, ponds, water courses etc.
Uses:
The leaves are demulcent and anthelmintic while the roots
are used as a laxative and diuretic. The plant is considered
antiseptic, antitubercular and antidysenteric. The leaves
are also used in eczema, leprosy, ulcers, piles, syphilis
and haemorrhoids. The juice of the leaves boiled in
coconut oil is used externally in skin diseases.
Special remarks:
It totally covers the surface of water bodies due to its
extensive growth, thus out-competing native plant species.
Distribution:
Native home exactly not known, but now widespread
in tropical and subtropical countries.