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Oenanthe javanica facts for kids

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Oenanthe javanica
Oenanthe javanica1.jpg
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Genus:
Oenanthe (plant)
Species:
javanica
Synonyms
  • Cyssopetalum javanicum Turcz.
  • Dasyloma corticatum Miq.
  • Dasyloma japonicum Miq.
  • Dasyloma javanicum (Blume) Miq.
  • Dasyloma laciniatum (Blume) Miq.
  • Dasyloma latifolium Lindl.
  • Dasyloma subbipinnatum Miq.
  • Falcaria javanica (Blume) DC.
  • Falcaria laciniata (Blume) DC.
  • Oenanthe decumbens Koso-Pol.
  • Oenanthe kudoi Suzuki & Yamam.
  • Oenanthe normanii F.P. Metcalf
  • Oenanthe stolonifera Wall. ex DC
  • Oenanthe subbipinnata (Miq.) Drude
  • Phellandrium stoloniferum Roxb.
  • Sium javanicum Blume

Oenanthe javanica, commonly Java waterdropwort, water celery, water dropwort, Chinese celery, Indian pennywort and Japanese (flat leaf) parsley, is a plant of the genus Oenanthe originating from East Asia. It has a widespread native distribution in temperate Asia and tropical Asia, and is also native to Queensland, Australia.

This plant should not be confused with the plants of the genus Cryptotaenia, sometimes called "Japanese wild parsley" (mitsuba in Japanese), Apium graveolens var. secalinum which is also called "Chinese celery", or other plants called "water dropwort" and "water celery".

Description

Oenanthe javanica is a perennial herb that grows to about 1 m in height, with fibrous roots that emerge from all nodes, and flowers with 5 white petals and 5 stamens. The leaves are aromatic, glabrous, and have a sheath covering the stem. The leaflets are divided into lobes and crinkled. The 'Flamingo' variety has colorful pink edges. The plant grows wild in moist areas, along streams and on the edges of ponds.

The plant is considered officially invasive in several states of the United States.

Culinary use

While many other species of Oenanthe are extremely toxic, Oenanthe javanica is edible, and is cultivated in China, India, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, and Vietnam, as well as in Italy, where its spring growths are relished as a vegetable.

India

Known locally as komprek (Meitei: ꯀꯣꯝꯄ꯭ꯔꯦꯛ), it is commonly consumed in the Northeast Indian state of Manipur, where it is one of the main ingredients in Manipuri eromba and singju.

Japan

Called seri (セリ) in Japanese, it is one of the ingredients of the symbolic dish consumed in the Japanese spring-time festival, Nanakusa-no-sekku.

Korea

In Korea, the plant is called minari (미나리) and is eaten as namul vegetable. The award-winning 2020 drama film Minari is named for the vegetable.

Constituents

The plant contains persicarin and isorhamnetin.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Oenanthe javanica para niños

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