Neptunia oleracea

Wassermimose ( Neptunia oleracea)

The Wassermimose ( Neptunia oleracea ) is a pantropical water plant.

Description

The Wassermimose is a perennial herbaceous plant. It grows swimming or lying on the shore ( hydrophyte ). They often rooted at the nodes. The change-constant leaves are several times pinnate and sensitively as with mimosas ( hence the name ). The rachis ( the average major axis of the leaflets ) is 1.1 to 4.2 (rarely to 6.5 ) cm long. There are two to four leaflets of the first order, and seven to 22 pairs of leaflets second-order available. The leaflets are approximately 5 to 20 mm in length and 1.5 to 4 mm wide. The petiole has a length of 2.5 to 9 cm. Most egg-shaped stipules are 5-9 mm long and 3-5 mm wide.

The at a 6.5 to 23 ( rarely to 30) cm long stalks standing kopfige inflorescence has a diameter of 1.5 to 2.5 cm and contains up to fifty flowers. The cup has a length of 1 to 3 mm. The petals are green to yellow. There are ten fertile stamens present. The ten kronblattartigen, yellow staminodes are up to 17 or 21 mm long.

The legumes are 1.3 to 2.7 (rarely to 3.8 ) cm long and 1 to 1.2 cm wide. The seeds have a length of 5 mm to 5.5 mm and a diameter of 3 to 3.5 mm.

Dissemination

The Wassermimose is found in South and Central America, Africa, Madagascar and Asia and inhabited warm, slow-flowing to stagnant water.

Synonyms

The species was first described in 1790 by João de Loureiro, there are a number of synonyms: Neptunia natans ( L. f ), Neptunia stolonifera ( DC.) Guill. & Perr. , Desmanthus stolonifer DC., Neptunia prostrata ( Lam.) Baill. , Mimosa prostrata Lam ..

Use

The Wassermimose is grown in Southeast Asia, especially Thailand as a vegetable.