Brasenia, commonly known as water shield, has an interesting story. Legend has it that long ago, a mischievous water nymph turned herself into a beautiful aquatic plant. Fascinated by its shimmering leaves, humans believed that it possessed magical healing powers. They would search for it in tranquil ponds, hoping to find blessings of health and prosperity. Over time, word spread about this mystical plant, captivating the hearts of many. Today, Brasenia continues to enchant people with its elegant appearance and hold a special place in folklore.
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Short Description
Brasenia is a genus belonging to the family Cabombaceae, consisting of one species, Brasenia schreberi, commonly known as watershield. It is widely distributed in North America, the West Indies, northern South America (Venezuela, Guyana), eastern Asia (China, Japan, Korea, Primorye), Australia, the Indian Subcontinent, and parts of Africa.
For sale in a Japanese supermarket, 2014
Brasenia is a perennial aquatic plant with floating, peltate leaves and rhizomatous stems. It is identified by its bright green leaves, small purple flowers that bloom from June through September, and a thick mucilage that covers all of the underwater organs, including the underside of the leaves, stems, and developing buds. This mucilage may be an anti-herbivore defence trait, perhaps to deter snail grazing. It grows in shallow water of lakes, rivers and beaver ponds, particularly those with somewhat acidic water.
Junsai with visible mucilage.
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