English
Tiếng Việt
Water fern is also a medicinal plant.
Posted date 19/01/2018
5.443 view
Posted date 19/01/2018
5.443 view
Share:
Ponds, lakes, rivers, and canals around where we live have many species of Water fern. These are aquatic plants, floating on the water surface, belonging to many different families, with different shapes and sizes. There are species as small as fish eggs, without roots (Wolffia arrhiza); larger species are Water fern, Water oxbill, Water fern or Water duckweed (belonging to the Araceae family), and the largest is Water fern.
Dr. Tran Cong Khanh
Ponds, lakes, rivers, and canals around where we live have many species of Water fern. These are aquatic plants, floating on the water surface, belonging to many different families, with different shapes and sizes. There are species as small as fish eggs, without roots ( Wolfia arrhiza ); larger species are Water fern, Water oxalis, Water fern or Water duckweed (belonging to the Araceae family ), and the largest is Water fern. Normally, people think they are only used for raising livestock, poultry, making green manure, or composting as fertilizer for plants..., but there is a more important application that many species are also used as medicine. The following are common medicinal Water fern species.
1. Duckweed
1. Duckweed
The scientific name of duckweed is Lemna minor L., belonging to the family Lemnaceae. The degenerated vegetative organs are only a thin oval leaf, 4-5mm wide, green, bearing a small thread-like root on the underside and often clustered in groups of 2-3 plants. The inflorescence is a spathe growing on the leaf blade, including a naked male flower with 2 stamens and a naked female flower carrying an ovary consisting of 1 carpel, containing 1 ovule. The fruit is achene.
Duckweed is harvested year-round and can be used fresh or dried. It is a folk medicine used to cool the body, induce sweating, reduce fever, increase urination, and treat painful and frequent urination. It can be used in decoction or powder form to drink. It is used externally to treat boils and skin diseases.
Duckweed also has the effect of clarifying water and fish food.
Duckweed also has the effect of clarifying water and fish food.
.png)
Figure 1: Duckweed ( source: Internet )
2. Azolla
Azolla is an aquatic plant in the fern phylum, belonging to the genus Azolla, family Azollaceae. In our country, the genus Azolla has 6 species, of which 2 species are used as medicine: Azolla and Small-leaved Azolla.
· Azolla pinnata R.Br. , lives in rice fields and ponds. The plant reproduces very quickly, forming a green carpet on the water surface. The stem is short with roots. The leaves are arranged in two rows, with 2 lobes, the lower lobe is submerged in water. The plant reproduces by spores, the sporangia carry large sporangia (floaters) and small sporangia.
In addition to its use as green manure for rice fields and as feed for ducks, Azolla is also used as a medicine to treat fever, cough, and diuretic. In Yunnan (China), Azolla is used to treat rheumatism, numbness, and measles.
Azolla is an aquatic plant in the fern phylum, belonging to the genus Azolla, family Azollaceae. In our country, the genus Azolla has 6 species, of which 2 species are used as medicine: Azolla and Small-leaved Azolla.
· Azolla pinnata R.Br. , lives in rice fields and ponds. The plant reproduces very quickly, forming a green carpet on the water surface. The stem is short with roots. The leaves are arranged in two rows, with 2 lobes, the lower lobe is submerged in water. The plant reproduces by spores, the sporangia carry large sporangia (floaters) and small sporangia.
In addition to its use as green manure for rice fields and as feed for ducks, Azolla is also used as a medicine to treat fever, cough, and diuretic. In Yunnan (China), Azolla is used to treat rheumatism, numbness, and measles.
.png)
Figure 2: Water fern ( source: Internet )
· Small-leafed Azolla ( Azolla microphylla Kaulf.)
This species of Water Fern was imported into our country in 1981. The plant is only 1-2cm long, round like a button, growing in layers. The leaves have 2 lobes, the lower lobe degenerates and becomes a float for the plant, the upper lobe contains chlorophyll for photosynthesis. The leaf axils on old branches have pairs of fruit spores that perform sexual reproduction.
Azolla in general has the ability to fix nitrogen from the air with very high efficiency thanks to its symbiotic relationship with the blue-green algae Anabaena azollae .
This species of Water Fern was imported into our country in 1981. The plant is only 1-2cm long, round like a button, growing in layers. The leaves have 2 lobes, the lower lobe degenerates and becomes a float for the plant, the upper lobe contains chlorophyll for photosynthesis. The leaf axils on old branches have pairs of fruit spores that perform sexual reproduction.
Azolla in general has the ability to fix nitrogen from the air with very high efficiency thanks to its symbiotic relationship with the blue-green algae Anabaena azollae .
.png)
Figure 3: Small-leafed water fern ( source: Internet )
Since 1982, many Vietnamese scientists, led by Prof. Dr. Le The Trung (Military Medical Academy) have extracted the whole extract from the small-leafed Azolla species called Phylamin. This substance has high biological activity, including 17 types of amino acids, 27 trace elements, flavonoids, phytosterols, B vitamins (B1, B2, B6, B12...), vitamin C, β-carotene and simple sugars such as glucose, maltose, fructose... Phylamin affects many functions of the body such as the immune process, growth, effects on the nervous system, cardiovascular system, anti-aging. In particular, the amino acids arginine, cysteine, L-cystine, trace elements Mg, Mo, Se, antioxidants, help slow down tumor growth, reduce the harmful effects of radiation, limit pain and enhance the ability to destroy cancer cells, prolonging the life of cancer patients from 3-5 years. Currently, on the market there is the drug Mediphylamin of Central Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company (Mediplantex).
· Water hyacinth
This water fern originated in South America (Brazil), but was introduced to Vietnam by Westerners in the early 20th century, so it is called 'Water fern', also known as Water fern, Japanese water fern, the medicinal name is Phu Binh, the scientific name is Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms, belonging to the family of Water fern (Pontederiaceae). Due to its good adaptation to the living environment in our country, Water fern grows rapidly, drifting on rivers everywhere, causing blockages in the flow, hindering waterway traffic, etc. This is a herbaceous plant that floats on the water surface or clings to mud, usually about 30-50cm high, with a cluster of long roots at the base. The leaves spread out in a rosette shape, the leaf veins are arc-shaped, the petioles swell into floats. The inflorescence is a flower on a 15cm long stem or more at the top of the stem. The flowers are irregular, light green or light purple; the sepals and corolla are the same color, fused at the base, the upper petals have a yellow spot; 6 stamens (3 long, 3 short); ovary with 3 cells, containing many ovules. Capsule fruit. The tree flowers from summer to winter.
· Water hyacinth
This water fern originated in South America (Brazil), but was introduced to Vietnam by Westerners in the early 20th century, so it is called 'Water fern', also known as Water fern, Japanese water fern, the medicinal name is Phu Binh, the scientific name is Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms, belonging to the family of Water fern (Pontederiaceae). Due to its good adaptation to the living environment in our country, Water fern grows rapidly, drifting on rivers everywhere, causing blockages in the flow, hindering waterway traffic, etc. This is a herbaceous plant that floats on the water surface or clings to mud, usually about 30-50cm high, with a cluster of long roots at the base. The leaves spread out in a rosette shape, the leaf veins are arc-shaped, the petioles swell into floats. The inflorescence is a flower on a 15cm long stem or more at the top of the stem. The flowers are irregular, light green or light purple; the sepals and corolla are the same color, fused at the base, the upper petals have a yellow spot; 6 stamens (3 long, 3 short); ovary with 3 cells, containing many ovules. Capsule fruit. The tree flowers from summer to winter.
.png)
Figure 4: Water hyacinth ( source: Internet )
Water hyacinth contains 92.6% water, 2.9% protein, 0.9% glucid, 22% fiber, 1.4% ash, 40.8mg% calcium, 0.8mg% phosphorus, 0.66mg% carotene, 20mg% vitamin C and other inorganic substances. Flowers contain delphinidin diglucoside.
Water hyacinth is a harmful invasive plant, but it also has many applications in human life, such as young shoots and flowers can be eaten raw or cooked in soup, used for raising pigs, used as green manure, dried leaf stalks are used to weave handicrafts and are also used as medicine.
According to Oriental medicine, Water fern has a bland taste, cool properties, is non-toxic; has the effect of clearing heat, diuresis, detoxification, anti-inflammation and pain relief. When having acne, swelling, swollen banana calves... take the leaves (including the stem), wash them, crush them, add a little salt (5-8g in 100g of water fern) and then apply or wrap them on the swollen area. Dry this piece and replace it with another piece, the swelling will disappear very quickly. If there is pus, the pus will quickly burst, reducing pain, no need for injections or antibiotics.
Water hyacinth flowers have a slightly sweet taste, cool properties, and have diuretic, detoxifying, and wind-heat-dispelling effects. When suffering from asthma or cough, take a handful of flowers and steam them with rock sugar to drink. Adding star fruit and pagoda tree flowers is even better. In India, Water hyacinth flowers are also used as medicine to treat respiratory diseases. In China, people use the whole plant as medicine to treat colds with fever, painful red urination, rheumatism, and red, swollen pimples.
Although named "Water fern", the use value of the above mentioned Water fern plants is not 'useless' but very useful for humans.
Water hyacinth is a harmful invasive plant, but it also has many applications in human life, such as young shoots and flowers can be eaten raw or cooked in soup, used for raising pigs, used as green manure, dried leaf stalks are used to weave handicrafts and are also used as medicine.
According to Oriental medicine, Water fern has a bland taste, cool properties, is non-toxic; has the effect of clearing heat, diuresis, detoxification, anti-inflammation and pain relief. When having acne, swelling, swollen banana calves... take the leaves (including the stem), wash them, crush them, add a little salt (5-8g in 100g of water fern) and then apply or wrap them on the swollen area. Dry this piece and replace it with another piece, the swelling will disappear very quickly. If there is pus, the pus will quickly burst, reducing pain, no need for injections or antibiotics.
Water hyacinth flowers have a slightly sweet taste, cool properties, and have diuretic, detoxifying, and wind-heat-dispelling effects. When suffering from asthma or cough, take a handful of flowers and steam them with rock sugar to drink. Adding star fruit and pagoda tree flowers is even better. In India, Water hyacinth flowers are also used as medicine to treat respiratory diseases. In China, people use the whole plant as medicine to treat colds with fever, painful red urination, rheumatism, and red, swollen pimples.
Although named "Water fern", the use value of the above mentioned Water fern plants is not 'useless' but very useful for humans.
Latest article
View all Posts
Related articles
See all related Articles
Register for admission consultation 2025
Dai Nam University offers admissions to
36 academic programs
across a diverse range of disciplines, including Healthcare, Engineering and Technology, Economics and Business, and Social Sciences and Humanities.
Register now to secure
scholarships and tuition support worth up to 55 billion VND
scholarships and tuition support worth up to 55 billion VND
Register now to secure
scholarships and tuition support worth up to 55 billion VND
scholarships and tuition support worth up to 55 billion VND
