Eleocharis dulcis (Burm. F.) Trin. ex Henschel (water chestnut)

Family cyperaceae

A perennial emerging herbal plant, the Eleocharis dulcis (Burm. F.) Trin. ex Henschel (water chestnut) has slender rhizomes and a cylindrically erect stalk empty in the middle. Without any leaves, the plants cluster closely together, with a height from 40 centimeters to 80 centimeters. Its terminal flowers are cylindrical and about 5 to 6 centimeters in length. When its brown achenes are formed, the whole plant looks just like an over-sized incense stick, with the top burned. It seems that with a snap of the finger tip the cinder will drop. The ones sold in the market are underground stems of a variation of the water chestnut species, called “sweet water chestnut” by Taiwanese.