Aponogeton (Sturtevant, 1919)
| Aponogeton (Sturtevant, 1919) |
Aponogeton distachyum Thunb.
Naiadaceae. CAPE ASPARAGUS. CAPE POND-WEED.
South Africa. This plant has become naturalized in a stream near Montpelier, France. Its flowering spikes, known as water untjie, are in South Africa in high repute as a pickle and also afford a spinach. In Kaffraria, the roasted roots are reckoned a great delicacy.
Aponogeton fenestralis Hook.
LATTICE-LEAP. WATER-YAM.
Madagascar. Ellis says this plant is not only extremely curious but also very valuable to the natives who, at certain seasons of the year, gather it as an article of food, the fleshy root, when cooked, yielding a farinaceous substance resembling the yam.
Aponogeton monostachyon Linn. f.
Tropical eastern Asia. The natives relish the small tubers as an article of diet; they are said to be as good as potatoes, and are esteemed a great delicacy.
