Oenanthe javanica Water dropwort (Umbelliferae)

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Oenanthe javanica
Water dropwort
(1 Page of 5)

The Oenanthe javanica plant species is found in E. Asia - Japan, Korea to Australia. It is a member of the Umbelliferae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Water dropwort. Some home gardeners know the variety as O. stolonifera.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Oenanthe javanica
Common Name:  Water dropwort
Family:  Umbelliferae
Author:  (Bl.)DC.

Known Hazards:  Although no specific mention of toxicity has been seen for this species, it belongs to a genus that contains a number of very poisonous plants and so some caution is advised[K]. It is said to contain the alleged 'psychotroph' myristicine[218].

Mature Height:  1   Mature Width:

Habitat:  Ditches, ponds and wet places in lowland areas all over Japan[58].

Cultivation Notes: Requires a wet fertile soil or shallow water and a sunny position[200]. This plant is quite possibly not hardy in Britain, [200] gives a hardyness zone of 10, which means that it is not frost tolerant. However [58] says that it grows in all areas of lowland Japan and this should include areas that do experience frosts and snow. Another report says that many forms of this species are not frost-hardy, though some forms have hardy roots[206]. There is also a lot of confusion over the correct name for this species. Some reports give O. stolonifera. DC. or O. stolonifera. Wall as the correct name whilst other reports say that these names are synonyms of O. javanica. [200] says that O. stolonifera japonica. (Miq.)Maxim. is a synonym of O. javanica. It is quite possible that both O. javanica and O. stolonifera are valid names and the uses listed here belong partly to each species. More research is required. This species is occasionally cultivated for its edible root[183] or for its edible leaves according to another report[179], there are some named varieties[183]. There are two main forms of this species, a red form has edible shoots whilst a white form is grown for its medicinal root[178]. In Japan this plant and six other herbs are customarily boiled in rice gruel on January 7th[183]. The cultivar 'Su Zhou' is medium early and has few fibres plus an excellent taste[183].

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Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
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