European Water Chestnut Plant
Other Common Names: water caltrop
(Trapa natans)
Non-Native
European water chestnut leaves form rosettes on the water as they float. Each floating leaf is triangular shaped with saw-tooth margins.
Description
Submersed stems can grow 12 to 15 feet long. They have very fine roots that are anchored into the mud. Leaves form rosettes on the water as they float. Each floating leaf is triangular shaped with saw tooth margins. Submersed leaves are feather like along the stem. Flowers are white with four petals. The fruit is a green to brown nut with four half inch barbed spines.
Although most European water chestnut seeds germinate within two years, the seeds can lay dormant for as many as 12 years.
Location
European water chestnut can be found mostly in the northeastern United States.
Propagation
seeds