Pistia stratiotes L.
Family: Araceae
Taxonomy: Plantae > Tracheophyta > Liliopsida > Alismatales > Araceae > Pistia > P. stratiotes
Common name [English]: water cabbage, water lettuce, Nile cabbage
Vernacular name [Malayalam]: ആകാശതാമര, കോടപ്പായൽ
Nativity: South America
Habitat: It is a free-floating plant that is capable of forming dense mats on the surfaces of lakes, ponds, rivers and other water bodies.
Description: Pistia stratiotes is a floating plant, drift, without rod, formed of a leaf rosette, 5 to 25 cm in diameter and short runner giving rise to daughter plants. A large network of fibrous roots dangling underwater. The leaves in dense rosette, sessile, broadly spatulate, fleshy, composed of a floating airy fabric. Both sides are hairy, greyish or yellowish green. Flowers are numerous, small and hidden at the base of the leaves, surrounded by a small room pale green or white leafy 7 mm long. The fruits are small elongated bays 6 to 10 mm long, containing several dark seeds.
Flowering and Fruiting : June - September
Uses: Water lettuce is often used in tropical aquariums to provide cover for fry and small fish. It is also helpful as it outcompetes algae for nutrients in the water, thereby preventing massive algal blooms.
Cultivation : common
References
http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org
https://indiabiodiversity.org