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Tag: Pistia stratiotes

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Is water lettuce an herb? Demystifying this aquatic plant

4 min read
Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes), an aquatic perennial, is often confused with edible garden vegetables due to its rosette shape and common name. While it is technically a herbaceous plant, this classification refers to its structure, not its use as a culinary or medicinal herb.

Why is Water Lettuce Not Edible for Humans?

4 min read
According to the North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, water lettuce possesses medium severity poison characteristics. Water lettuce is not edible for humans primarily because its tissues are loaded with microscopic, razor-sharp calcium oxalate crystals, which cause immediate and painful irritation upon ingestion.