Most pond and aquatic plants are inedible or even poisonous for humans and animals. However, there are also species that you can use as wild vegetables, salads or culinary and medicinal herbs. This article will tell you which ones exactly!
Which aquatic plants are edible?
Edible aquatic plants include snake knotweed (young leaves and stems), bachbunge (raw vegetable salad or cooked), common aquatic plants (salad or cooked), watercress (salad or cooked) and fever clover (tonic). Thorough washing before consumption is important.
These plants from the garden pond are edible
- The young leaves and stems of the snake knotweed (Polygonum bistorta) can be prepared like spinach.
- You can also use the young leaves and stems of the Bachbunge (Veronica beccabunga), often called Bach speedwell, as a raw vegetable salad or cook as a vegetable. Add other herbs (such as parsley) to neutralize the bitter taste a little.
- The clove root (Geum rivale) can be used as a salad or cooked in s alt water as a fine vegetable.
- You can use the young leaves of watercress (Nasturtium officinale) for a spicy, somewhat bitter-tasting salad. It is also possible to cook the leaves as a vegetable. Watercress contains plenty of vitamin C.
- Fever clover (Menyanthes trifoliata) is suitable as a tonic for fever, headaches and stomach weakness.
Important: In general, make sure to wash the leaves and stems of the plants thoroughly before consumption (or before preparing them as a raw vegetable salad).
The plants mentioned are just examples. There are many more edible pond and water plants.
