Rice paddy herb facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rice paddy herb |
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| flowering plant | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Limnophila (plant)
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| Species: |
aromatica
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| Synonyms | |
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Limnophila aromaticoides Yang & Yen |
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Limnophila aromatica, also known as the rice paddy herb, is a tropical flowering plant. It belongs to the Plantaginaceae family. This plant is originally from Southeast Asia. It grows best in warm places, especially in watery areas like flooded rice fields.
In Vietnam, people call it ngò ôm or ngò om or ngổ. They use it as an herb in cooking. It is also grown for use in aquariums. The plant came to North America in the 1970s. This happened because many Vietnamese people moved there after the Vietnam War. In Khmer, it is called "ma om" (ម្អម). It is used in traditional Cambodian soups and Southern Vietnamese dishes.
The rice paddy herb can grow in flooded rice fields during the wet season. However, it grows even better in sandy soil that is drained but still wet. This happens a few months after the rainy season ends. The plant usually dies soon after it flowers. In rural Cambodia, people often pick it and dry it on their roofs. This way, they can use it later.
Contents
About the Plant
The rice paddy herb is a unique plant. It loves warm, wet places. Its leaves can change color depending on how much light it gets. This makes it interesting for aquariums.
How it Grows
This plant grows well in different conditions. It can handle being completely underwater. It also thrives in very wet soil. After the rainy season, when rice fields are harvested, the soil becomes perfect for it. The plant's life cycle is quite short. It grows, flowers, and then dies.
Plant Classification
Plants are grouped by scientists to show how they are related. This is called Taxonomy. Limnophila aromatica used to be in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae. But now, scientists have reclassified it. It is now part of the plantain family, Plantaginaceae. This change happened because new studies showed it was more closely related to plants in the plantain family.
Cooking with Rice Paddy Herb
The rice paddy herb has a special taste. It smells and tastes a bit like lemon and cumin. This makes it a popular ingredient in many dishes.
Vietnamese Dishes
It is used a lot in Vietnamese cooking. There, it is known as ngò om. One popular dish that uses it is canh chua. This is a sweet and sour seafood soup. It also has tamarind for its sour taste. People sometimes confuse ngò om with ngò gai. Ngò gai is another herb added to noodle soups like phở.
Thai Dishes
In Thai cuisine, the rice paddy herb is called phak khaeyng (ผักแขยง). It is also used to make a type of soup called om. Its fresh, unique flavor adds a lot to these traditional meals.
Using it in Aquariums
Limnophila aromatica is a popular plant for aquariums. This is because it can live completely underwater. When it grows underwater, its leaves look different. They are less stiff and bigger than the leaves that grow above water. Underwater leaves are usually green with a purple underside. If the plant gets a lot of light, its leaves can turn completely red. This makes it a beautiful addition to any fish tank.
