Selected images for water-chestnut (Trapa natans )
Water chestnut is a rooted, floating plant that invades shallow to deep, fresh water habitats in the northeastern United States. Water chestnut can grow in 12 to 15 ft. (3.6-4.6 m) of water and forms dense, floating mats, often three layers deep. Leaves on the surface of the water are alternate, triangular in shape, strongly toothed and connected to the stem by an inflated petiole. Submerged leaves are feathery and either opposite or alternate. Flowering occurs from mid-summer to frost. Small, four-petaled flowers give way to the nut-like fruit. The fruit have two to four, ½ in. (1.3 cm) long, sharp, barbed spines. The spines can penetrate shoes. The dense, floating mats restrict light availability, reduce the oxygen content, and displace other emergent and floating vegetation. Water chestnut also limits boating, fishing, swimming and other recreational activities. Water chestnut is native to Europe and Asia and was first observed in the United States in Massachusetts in the late 1800s.
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 0002120 water-chestnut Trapa natans Feature(s) Alfred Cofrancesco |
 2308042 water-chestnut Trapa natans Flower(s) Leslie J. Mehrhoff |
 2308043 water-chestnut Trapa natans Plant(s) Leslie J. Mehrhoff |
 5274095 water-chestnut Trapa natans Plant(s) Leslie J. Mehrhoff |
 5274097 water-chestnut Trapa natans Fruit(s) Leslie J. Mehrhoff |
 5274098 water-chestnut Trapa natans Fruit(s) Leslie J. Mehrhoff |
 5309016 water-chestnut Trapa natans Plant(s) USDA PLANTS Database |
 5309017 water-chestnut Trapa natans Fruit(s) Steve Hurst |
