iNaturalist Plant Observations - Costa Rica (iNaturalist:Plants-Costa Rica)
Pistia stratiotes L.
Araceae
water lettuce
indianplumleaf
2018-06-22
Costa Rica, Puntarenas, Coto Brus, Las Cruces Biological Station, Coto Brus, Puntarenas, CR
8.784825 -82.9605333333 +-5m.
Family: Araceae Uses: Water lettuce is often used in tropical aquariums to provide cover for fry and small fish. It is also helpful as it outcompetes algae for nutrients in the water, thereby preventing massive algal blooms. It is also used as fodder for pigs and cattle. The plants have also been used to remove heavy metals from water sources. It is also used to abnormal accumulation of fluids in tissue, as a laxative, as an anti-inflammatory, as a remedy for infectious venereal diseases, and a treatment for piles, tumors, boils, and chronic skin diseases.