Botanical identity
This taxon is documented in the World Checklist of Useful Plant Species with a reported medicinal use. The record establishes a use report and botanical index entry, not clinical effectiveness or individual safety.
KingdomPlantae
Phylum / divisionTracheophyta
ClassLiliopsida
OrderAlismatales
FamilyAraceae
GenusPistia
Scientific name with authorshipPistia stratiotes L.
Indexed scientific synonyms
Apiospermum obcordatum (Schleid.) KlotzschLimnonesis commutata (Schleid.) KlotzschLimnonesis friedrichsthaliana KlotzschPistia aegyptiaca Schleid.Pistia aethiopica FenzlPistia aethiopica Fenzl ex KlotzschPistia africana C.PreslPistia amazonica C.PreslPistia brasiliensis KlotzschPistia commutata Schleid.Pistia crispata BlumePistia cumingii KlotzschPistia gardneri KlotzschPistia horkeliana Miq.Pistia leprieuri BlumePistia linguiformis BlumePistia minor BlumePistia natalensis KlotzschPistia obcordata Schleid.Pistia occidentalis BlumePistia schleideniana KlotzschPistia spathulata Michx.Pistia stratiotes subsp. cuneata Engl.Pistia stratiotes subsp. linguiformis Engl.Pistia stratiotes subsp. obcordata (Schleid.) Engl.Pistia stratiotes subsp. spathulata (Michx.) Engl.Pistia stratiotes var. cuneata Engl.Pistia stratiotes var. linguiformis Engl.Pistia stratiotes var. obcordata (Schleid.) Engl.Pistia stratiotes var. spathulata (Michx.) Engl.Pistia texensis KlotzschPistia turpini BlumePistia turpinii K.KochPistia weigeltiana C.PreslZala asiatica Lour.
Documented use categories
Medicine
Human food
Animal food
Environmental use
Fuel
Gene source
Material
These categories describe the kinds of human-use reports attached to the taxon in the source checklist. Multiple categories can coexist; a plant may be recorded as both food and poison, depending on part, preparation and context.
How to interpret this record
Evidence boundary
A taxonomic use record is a discovery and indexing signal. Clinical evidence must be assessed separately for the exact species, plant part, preparation, route, dose and health question.
Safety boundary
Correct identification is essential. Toxicity, contraindications, interactions and safe preparation cannot be inferred from a documented-use record.
Dataset record and provenance
DatasetWCUPS 2020
LicenceCC BY 4.0
Name sourceIPNI
IPNI / external identifier317684-2
Use codesAF EU FU GS HF MA ME
Crop wild relativeNo
Contributing checklist sources
Kew Economic Botany CollectionUSDA GRINMedicinal Plant Names Services v8.2Plant Resources of South-East AsiaPlant Resources for Tropical AfricaUseful Plants of West Tropical Africa
Read the full dataset citation, licence and import methodology →
!Educational index, not a treatment recommendation
The presence of a taxon in this database does not provide a diagnosis, dose, formulation or assurance of safety. Some indexed plants are toxic, regulated, endangered or unsafe in specific life stages.