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{{SPlantbox
| latin_name = ''LATINNAME'' <!--- replace LATINNAME with the actual latin name -->
|familia=Trapaceae
| common_names = <!--- if multiple, list all, if none, leave blank -->
|genus=Trapa
| growth_habit = ? <!--- tree, shrub, herbaceous, vine, etc -->
|common_name=Water caltrop, Water chestnut
| high = ? <!--- 1m (3 ft) -->
|name_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|habit=aquatic
| origin = ? <!--- Mexico, S America, S Europe, garden, etc -->
|habit_ref=Wikipedia
| poisonous = <!--- indicate parts of plants which are known/thought to be poisonous -->
|lifespan=perennial
| lifespan = <!--- perennial, annual, etc -->
|life_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
| exposure = ? <!--- full sun, part-sun, semi-shade, shade, indoors, bright filtered (you may list more than 1) -->
|water=wet
| water = ? <!--- frequent, regular, moderate, drought tolerant, let dry then soak -->
|features=edible
| features = <!--- flowers, fragrance, fruit, naturalizes, invasive -->
|Temp Metric=°F
|image=Water-caltrops.jpg
|image_width=240
| color = IndianRed
| image = Upload.png <!--- Freesia.jpg -->
| image_width = 240px <!--- leave as 240px if horizontal orientation photo, or change to 180px if vertical -->
}}
}}
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.
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.
{{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===
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==
*''[[Trapa natans]]''
*''[[Trapa bicornis]]''
==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery perrow=5>
File:Taiwan 2009 Tainan City Water Caltrop Field FRD 7922.jpg|Caltrop crop
Image:Upload.png| photo 1
Image:Upload.png| photo 1
Image:Upload.png| photo 2
Image:Upload.png| photo 2
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