Trapa natans 5 PCS fresh seeds nuts, Water caltrop, Water nut, Water chestnut, Buffalo nut, Bat nut, Floating aquatic plant, Exotic seeds

🌱 Trapa natans — Water caltrop, Water nut, Water chestnut, Buffalo nut, Bat nut, Floating aquatic plant, Exotic seeds

Seeds of Trapa natans, an annual aquatic plant from the family Lythraceae. Key selling points include its edible fruit and ability to thrive in muddy soils of slow-flowing or stagnant reservoirs.

🌿 Botanical Description

The stem of Trapa natans is submerged in water, developing in the spring from the fruit and reaching the surface of the water, growing up to 3.6-5 m in length. The roots are greenish, pinnately branched, and located on a stem submerged in water, resembling underwater leaves. The plant has two types of leaves: underwater leaves are opposite, linear, and located along the stem above the roots, while floating leaves are oval or rhombic in shape, leathery, and uneven at the edges, 2-3 cm long, located on petioles 5-9 cm long. The flowers are white, located in the axils of the leaves, pollinated by insects, and bloom in May - June. The fruit is a black-brown nut 2-2.5 cm across, with two to four sharp horns, containing one large starchy seed.

🌾 Growing & Agrotechnics

• Sow seeds 1-2 cm deep in muddy soils of slow-flowing or stagnant reservoirs in spring or early summer, after stratification for 30-60 days.
• Germination temperature: 20-25°C, germination time: 1-3 weeks.
• Soil type: muddy soils, pH: 6.0-7.0, drainage: poor.
• Watering and fertilization: keep the soil consistently moist, avoid overfertilization.
• USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-9, frost tolerance: sensitive.

🗺️ Natural Growing Areas

Trapa natans grows in lakes, backwaters, and old trees of slow-flowing rivers, typically up to 5 m in length. It prefers muddy soils and is often found in solid thickets.

✨ Interesting Facts

Trapa natans has been used as a food source for centuries, with the edible kernel containing 20% protein, 52% starch, and 0.7% fat. The plant is sensitive to the composition of water, light, and temperature, and often forms thickets in its natural habitats.