Changes

|common_name=Water caltrop, Water chestnut

|common_name=Water caltrop, Water chestnut

|name_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia

|name_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia

|lifespan=perennial

|lifespan=perennial

|life_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia

|life_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia

|Temp Metric=°F

|Temp Metric=°F

|image=Water-caltrops.jpg

|image=Upload.png

|image_width=240

|image_width=240

}}

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The '''water caltrop''' , '''water chestnut''' or '''Singhara''' is either of two [[species]] of the [[genus]] ''Trapa'': ''Trapa natans'' and ''Trapa bicornis''. Both species are floating [[annual plant|annual]] [[aquatic plant]]s, growing in slow-moving water up to 5 meters deep, native to warm temperate parts of [[Eurasia]] and [[Africa]]. They bear ornately shaped fruits that resemble the head of a bull, each containing a single very large starchy seed. It has been cultivated in [[China]] and [[India]] for at least 3,000 years for these seeds, which are boiled and sold as an occasional streetside snack in the south of that country.

| latin_name = ''Trapa''

 

| common_names = water caltrop, water chestnut

The water caltrop's submerged [[plant stem|stem]] reaches 12 to 15 ft (3.6 to 4.5 m) in length, anchored into the mud by very fine roots.  It has two types of [[Leaf|leaves]], finely divided feather-like submerged leaves borne along the length of the stem, and undivided floating leaves borne in a rosette at the water's surface.  The floating leaves have saw-tooth edges and are ovoid or triangular in shape, 2–3 cm long, on inflated petioles 5–9 cm long, which provide added buoyancy for the leafy portion. Four-petalled white [[flower]]s form in early summer and are [[insect-pollinated]]. The fruit is a nut with four 0.5 in (1 cm), barbed spines. [[Seed]]s can remain viable for up to 12 years, although most will germinate within the first two years.

| growth_habit = ?  <!--- tree, shrub, herbaceous, vine, etc -->

 

| high = ?  <!--- 1m (3 ft) -->

| origin = ?  <!--- Mexico, S America, S Europe, garden, etc -->

| poisonous =    <!--- indicate parts of plants which are known/thought to be poisonous -->

| lifespan =    <!--- perennial, annual, etc -->

| exposure = ?  <!--- full sun, part-sun, semi-shade, shade, indoors, bright filtered (you may list more than 1) -->

| water = ?  <!--- frequent, regular, moderate, drought tolerant, let dry then soak -->

| features =    <!--- flowers, fragrance, fruit, naturalizes, invasive -->

| hardiness =    <!--- frost sensitive, hardy, 5°C (40°F), etc -->

| bloom =    <!--- seasons which the plant blooms, if it is grown for its flowers -->

| sunset_zones =    <!--- eg. 8, 9, 12-24, not available -->

| image = Water-caltrops.jpg

{{Inc|

{{Inc|

Trapa (abbreviated from calcitrapa, which is the same as caltrops, an instrument of war used to impede the progress of mounted warriors; it had four spine-like projections, like the fruit of the water caltrops). Trapaceae or Hydrocaryaceae; by some retained in Onagraceae. Floating plants adapted to the aquarium.

Trapa (abbreviated from calcitrapa, which is the same as caltrops, an instrument of war used to impede the progress of mounted warriors; it had four spine-like projections, like the fruit of the water caltrops). Trapaceae or Hydrocaryaceae; by some retained in Onagraceae. Floating plants adapted to the aquarium.

===Propagation===

===Propagation===

{{edit-prop}}<!--- Type propagation info below this line, then delete this entire line -->

The plant spreads by the rosettes and fruits detaching from the stem and floating to another area on currents or by fruits clinging to objects, birds and animals.

===Pests and diseases===

===Pests and diseases===

==Species==

==Species==

==Gallery==

==Gallery==

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