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Waterchestnut

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Waterchestnut—Eleocharis dulcis (Burm. f.) Trin. ex Henschel

MV150/HS683 by James M. StephensNovember 6, 2018Chinese waterchestnut has other common names such as waternut, horse's hoof, matai, hon matai, kweilin matai, pi chi, pi tsi, sui matai, and kuro-kuwai. It is a rush-like plant grown in ponds for its round corms or tubers, whose chestnut brown skin color together with the chestnutty flavor and texture of the white flesh, give rise to the name waterchestnut. Waterchestnuts are seldom grown in Florida and the rest of the United States, although limited attempts have been made here and in California and Hawaii. It is an important crop in China and is imported to the United States to be used in Chinese cookery. Trials in Gainesville in polyethylene-plastic lined ponds filled with sand gave fair results, although the operation was very labor-intensive.

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