Plant of the Week – Euryale ferox Salisb

Euryale ferox Salisb, commonly known as Prickly Water Lily or Makhana, is a perennial aquatic plant valued for its fox nuts or Makhana that are used for various purposes, including food, medicine, and other traditional practices. The seeds are often roasted or fried and are eaten by the community. These plants are characterized by the presence of sharp spines present on the stems, leaves, and even on the flower sepals. Leaves large, round, and peltate (ca. 30-120 x 25-110 cm).

Flowers pinkish on long peduncles. Sepals 4, fleshy, violet or pinkish-violet inside, green and armed with scattered recurved prickles outside. Petals pinkish-violet. Fruits globular – ovoid, prickly with accrescent sepals. Seeds dark brown enclosed in pulpy white aril marked with scattered reddish streaks. Even though this plant is common in Bihar and Assam plains, it is a very rare in south India. Green Ahalia is the best place in South India, where this plant is currently growing, multiplied and conserved.

For more details: greenahalia@ahhkv.org