1170

 Euryale ferox  Salisb.

Synonyms	:	Euryale indica Planch.
Family	:	Nymphaeaceae
Local name	:	English- Prickly Waterlily.
Flowering and fruiting period	:	May-august
Distribution	:	India: Assam, Kashmir, Manipur, Uttar Pradesh, West Ben
Habitat	:	slowly flowing water in ponds and lakes in lowland,
Uses	:	Tender seeds are edible and considered a delicacy in Manipur when added to mashed boiled vegetables, called eromba.
Key Botanical Characters  Prickly Water Lily or Gorgon Plant, is a floating plant with large (4 to 5 feet across), round, deeply veined, flat leaves. The leaves are "quilted" and have thorns on the surface as well as on the royal purple reverse.The day blooming cup-shaped flowers usually open under water but on rare occasions open above water. They are deep violet with an outer row of white petals. Sharp spines cover the surface of the sepals and stems and also both sides of the leaves.