Neptunia oleracea
Fabaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Neptunia oleracea

Neptunia oleracea

Edibility
4/5
Medicinal
2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Neptunia oleracea is a common floating or prostrate plant in still and slowly moving water and by the water's edge. There is a rooted land form which has smaller leaves and flowers, and has no spongy floating tissue[ 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. , 418 Title Ecocrop Publication Author Website http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available. ]. The plant has a thick taproot, up to 150 cm long, and rarely branched stems[ 418 Title Ecocrop Publication Author Website http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available. ]. A common ingredient of Thai cuisine, the plant is cultivated in some tropical areas of Asia for its edible leaves and young shoots[ 301 Title Cornucopia II Publication Author Facciola. S. Publisher Kampong Publications, California. Year 1998 ISBN 0-9628087-2-5 Description The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc. ]. Neptunia oleracea is widespread and abundant throughout its known range. Populations are enhanced by cultivation and it may be established as an invasive in some areas. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical
Native RangeTropical regions of Africa, southeast Asia, Australia and S. America.
HabitatFree-floating in slow-moving, still or stagnant water, often as a weed of irrigation channels[ 303 Title World Agroforesty Centre Publication Author Website http://www.worldagroforestry.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc. ].A common floating plant in and around fresh water ponds, swamps and canals, at low elevations up to 300 metres[ 418 Title Ecocrop Publication Author Website http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available. ].