Algae and Plants
71
Monochoria vaginalis (Burm. f.) (C. Presl ex Kunth)
Order: Commelinales
Family: Pontederiaceae
Common name: Heartleaf false pickerelweed, oval leaf pondweed.
Distribution: Native to much of Asia
and across many of the Pacific islands.
Habitat: Freshwater pools, stagnant
backwaters, mudflats, swampy places,
ditches.
Description: This is an annual or perennial herb 10–50 cm tall and stemless.
The shiny green leaves are up to about
12 cm long and 10 cm wide. They are
linear or lanceolate, and in older plants,
they are ovate-oblong to broadly ovate,
sharply acuminate with a heart-shaped
or rounded base, shiny, deep green.
The inflorescence bears 3–25 flowers,
which open underwater and all around
the same time. Each has six purpleblue sepals just over a centimeter long.
The  leaves and flowers of this species
are edible.
Nutritional Facts
Proximate Composition (g/100 g DM)
Moisture a CHO b Protein Fat Fiber Ash Energy c
97.5
38.5
19.6 0.9 11.3 13.2 240
a g/100 g WW.
b Carbohydrate.
c kcal/100 g DM.
Minerals (mg/g)
Na (mg/g) K (mg/g) Mg (mg/g) Ca (mg/100 g) Fe (mg/100 g) Zn (µg/g) Cu (µg/g)
18.8
20.2
1.64
4.4
33.1
37.8
67.1
Vitamins (µg/g WW)
Asc
γT
αT
Thi
Rib
438.1
ND
1.1
ND
2.3
Asc, ascorbic acid; γT, γ-tocopherol; αT, α-tocopherol;
Thi, thiamin; Rib, riboflavin; ND, no data.
Source: Data from Ng et al. (2012).