Taxon: Eleocharis dulcis (Burm. f.) Trin. ex Hensch.

Summary

Genus:

Eleocharis

Family:

Cyperaceae

Subfamily:

Cyperoideae

Tribe:

Eleocharideae

Nomen number:

14976

Place of publication:

Vita Rumphii 186. 1833

Verified:

05/24/1994 ARS Systematic Botanists.

Accessions:

18 (6 active, 6 available) in National Plant Germplasm System. (Map it)

Other conspecific taxa

Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations

Basionym
Andropogon dulcis Burm. f.

Heterotypic Synonym(s)
Eleocharis equisetina J. Presl & C. Presl
Eleocharis tuberosa (Roxb.) Schult.
Scirpus tuberosus Roxb.

Images (4 total. Click on image for more.)

Conservation Status

Reference(s)

APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
Arnold, T. H. & B. C. De Wet, eds. 1993. Plants of southern Africa: names and distribution. Mem. Bot. Surv. S. Africa no. 62
Browning, J. & C. J. Ward. 1997. Studies in Cyperaceae in Southern Africa 32: Eleocharis subgenus Limnochloa section Limnochloa. S. African J. Bot. 63:173.
Chinese Academy of Sciences. 1959-. Flora reipublicae popularis sinicae.
CIBA-GEIGY, Basel, Switzerland. Documenta CIBA-GEIGY (Grass weeds 1. 1980, 2. 1981; Monocot weeds 3. 1982; Dicot weeds 1. 1988) Note: four books on weeds worldwide in scope
Dassanayake, M. D. & F. R. Fosberg, eds. 1980-. A revised handbook to the flora of Ceylon.
Erhardt, W. et al. 2008. Der große Zander: Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen 1384-1385.
Flach, M. & F. Rumawas, eds. 1996. Plants yielding non-seed carbohydrates. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 9:97-100.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 2010. Ecocrop (on-line resource).
Gordon-Gray, K. D. 1995. Cyperaceae in Natal
Govaerts, R. & D. A. Simpson. 2007. World checklist of Cyperaceae, sedges.
Hara, H. et al. 1978-1982. An enumeration of the flowering plants of Nepal.
Harden, G. J., ed. 1990-1993. Flora of New South Wales.
Hnatiuk, R. J. 1990. Census of Australian vascular plants. Australian Flora and Fauna Series No. 11.
Holm, L. et al. 1979. A geographical atlas of world weeds
Keay, R. W. J. & F. N. Hepper. 1953-1972. Flora of west tropical Africa, ed. 2.
Markle, G. M. et al., eds. 1998. Food and feed crops of the United States, ed. 2
Molina G., A. M. 2011. Review of Cyperaceae data for World Economic Plants, ed. 2. pers. comm. via e-mail on 31 Mar.
Personal Care Products Council. International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient
Porcher, M. H. et al. Searchable World Wide Web Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database (MMPND) (on-line resource).
Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Rosengarten, F. 1984. The book of edible nuts
Steenis, C. G. G. J. van, ed. 1948-. Flora malesiana.
1961. Webster's third new international dictionary.

Common names

Language	Name	seq	Citation
English	Chinese water-chestnut	1	Wiersema, J. H. & B. León. 1999. World economic plants: a standard reference CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
English	ground-chestnut	1	CIBA-GEIGY, Basel, Switzerland. Documenta CIBA-GEIGY (Grass weeds 1. 1980, 2. 1981; Monocot weeds 3. 1982; Dicot weeds 1. 1988) Note: four books on weeds worldwide in scope
English	waternut	1	1961. Webster's third new international dictionary.
French	châtaigne d'eau	2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
German	chinesische Wassernuß	2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
German	Wasserkastanie	2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Spanish	cabezas de negrito	2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Spanish	nuez china	2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Spanish	pitsi	2	Molina G., A. M. 2011. Review of Cyperaceae data for World Economic Plants, ed. 2. pers. comm. via e-mail on 31 Mar.

Distribution

order_code	Status	Continent	Subcontinent	Country	State	Note	Reference
1	Native	Africa	East Tropical Africa	Kenya			Govaerts, R. & D. A. Simpson. 2007. World checklist of Cyperaceae, sedges.
1	Native	Africa	East Tropical Africa	Tanzania			Govaerts, R. & D. A. Simpson. 2007. World checklist of Cyperaceae, sedges.
1	Native	Africa	East Tropical Africa	Uganda			Govaerts, R. & D. A. Simpson. 2007. World checklist of Cyperaceae, sedges.
1	Native	Africa	South Tropical Africa	Zambia			Govaerts, R. & D. A. Simpson. 2007. World checklist of Cyperaceae, sedges.
1	Native	Africa	Southern Africa	Botswana			Arnold, T. H. & B. C. De Wet, eds. 1993. Plants of southern Africa: names and distribution. Mem. Bot. Surv. S. Africa no. 62
1	Native	Africa	Southern Africa	South Africa	KwaZulu-Natal		Arnold, T. H. & B. C. De Wet, eds. 1993. Plants of southern Africa: names and distribution. Mem. Bot. Surv. S. Africa no. 62
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Burkina Faso			Keay, R. W. J. & F. N. Hepper. 1953-1972. Flora of west tropical Africa, ed. 2.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Côte D'Ivoire			Govaerts, R. & D. A. Simpson. 2007. World checklist of Cyperaceae, sedges.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Gambia			Keay, R. W. J. & F. N. Hepper. 1953-1972. Flora of west tropical Africa, ed. 2.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Ghana			Keay, R. W. J. & F. N. Hepper. 1953-1972. Flora of west tropical Africa, ed. 2.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Guinea			Keay, R. W. J. & F. N. Hepper. 1953-1972. Flora of west tropical Africa, ed. 2.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Liberia			Keay, R. W. J. & F. N. Hepper. 1953-1972. Flora of west tropical Africa, ed. 2.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Mali			Keay, R. W. J. & F. N. Hepper. 1953-1972. Flora of west tropical Africa, ed. 2.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Nigeria			Keay, R. W. J. & F. N. Hepper. 1953-1972. Flora of west tropical Africa, ed. 2.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Senegal			Keay, R. W. J. & F. N. Hepper. 1953-1972. Flora of west tropical Africa, ed. 2.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Sierra Leone			Keay, R. W. J. & F. N. Hepper. 1953-1972. Flora of west tropical Africa, ed. 2.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Togo			Govaerts, R. & D. A. Simpson. 2007. World checklist of Cyperaceae, sedges.
1	Native	Africa	Western Indian Ocean	Madagascar			Govaerts, R. & D. A. Simpson. 2007. World checklist of Cyperaceae, sedges.
1	Native	Africa	Western Indian Ocean	Mauritius			Govaerts, R. & D. A. Simpson. 2007. World checklist of Cyperaceae, sedges.
1	Native	Africa	Western Indian Ocean	Seychelles			Govaerts, R. & D. A. Simpson. 2007. World checklist of Cyperaceae, sedges.
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China			Chinese Academy of Sciences. 1959-. Flora reipublicae popularis sinicae.
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Eastern Asia	Japan	Honshu
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Eastern Asia	Japan	Kyushu
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Eastern Asia	Japan	Ryukyu Islands
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Eastern Asia	Taiwan			Govaerts, R. & D. A. Simpson. 2007. World checklist of Cyperaceae, sedges.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	India			Govaerts, R. & D. A. Simpson. 2007. World checklist of Cyperaceae, sedges.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	Pakistan			Govaerts, R. & D. A. Simpson. 2007. World checklist of Cyperaceae, sedges.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	Sri Lanka			Dassanayake, M. D. & F. R. Fosberg, eds. 1980-. A revised handbook to the flora of Ceylon.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indo-China	Myanmar
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indo-China	Thailand			Govaerts, R. & D. A. Simpson. 2007. World checklist of Cyperaceae, sedges.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indo-China	Vietnam			Govaerts, R. & D. A. Simpson. 2007. World checklist of Cyperaceae, sedges.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Malesia	Indonesia			Steenis, C. G. G. J. van, ed. 1948-. Flora malesiana.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Malesia	Malaysia			Steenis, C. G. G. J. van, ed. 1948-. Flora malesiana.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Malesia	Philippines			Steenis, C. G. G. J. van, ed. 1948-. Flora malesiana.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Papuasia	Papua New Guinea			Steenis, C. G. G. J. van, ed. 1948-. Flora malesiana.
1	Native	Australasia	Australia	Australia	New South Wales	n.e.	Hnatiuk, R. J. 1990. Census of Australian vascular plants. Australian Flora and Fauna Series No. 11.
1	Native	Australasia	Australia	Australia	Northern Territory		Hnatiuk, R. J. 1990. Census of Australian vascular plants. Australian Flora and Fauna Series No. 11.
1	Native	Australasia	Australia	Australia	Queensland		Hnatiuk, R. J. 1990. Census of Australian vascular plants. Australian Flora and Fauna Series No. 11.
1	Native	Australasia	Australia	Australia	Western Australia	n.	Hnatiuk, R. J. 1990. Census of Australian vascular plants. Australian Flora and Fauna Series No. 11.
1	Native	Pacific	Northwestern Pacific	Micronesia			Govaerts, R. & D. A. Simpson. 2007. World checklist of Cyperaceae, sedges.
1	Native	Pacific	Northwestern Pacific	United States	Northern Mariana Islands		Govaerts, R. & D. A. Simpson. 2007. World checklist of Cyperaceae, sedges.
1	Native	Pacific	Southwestern Pacific	Fiji			Govaerts, R. & D. A. Simpson. 2007. World checklist of Cyperaceae, sedges.
1	Native	Pacific	Southwestern Pacific	New Caledonia			Govaerts, R. & D. A. Simpson. 2007. World checklist of Cyperaceae, sedges.
1	Native	Pacific	Southwestern Pacific	Samoa			Govaerts, R. & D. A. Simpson. 2007. World checklist of Cyperaceae, sedges.
1	Native	Pacific	Southwestern Pacific	Tonga			Govaerts, R. & D. A. Simpson. 2007. World checklist of Cyperaceae, sedges.
2	Cultivated					widely cult. in tropics

Native
Africa

EAST TROPICAL AFRICA: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda
WEST TROPICAL AFRICA: Burkina Faso, Côte D'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Gambia, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo
SOUTH TROPICAL AFRICA: Zambia
SOUTHERN AFRICA: Botswana, South Africa [KwaZulu-Natal]
WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN: Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles

Asia-Temperate

CHINA: China
EASTERN ASIA: Japan [Honshu, Kyushu, Ryukyu Islands], Taiwan

Asia-Tropical

INDIAN SUBCONTINENT: India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan
PAPUASIA: Papua New Guinea
INDO-CHINA: Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam
MALESIA: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines

Australasia

AUSTRALIA: Australia [New South Wales (n.e.), Queensland, Western Australia (n.), Northern Territory]

Pacific

NORTHWESTERN PACIFIC: Micronesia, United States [Northern Mariana Islands]
SOUTHWESTERN PACIFIC: Fiji, New Caledonia, Tonga, Samoa

Cultivated (widely cult. in tropics)

Reference(s)

Arnold, T. H. & B. C. De Wet, eds. 1993. Plants of southern Africa: names and distribution. Mem. Bot. Surv. S. Africa no. 62
Chinese Academy of Sciences. 1959-. Flora reipublicae popularis sinicae.
Dassanayake, M. D. & F. R. Fosberg, eds. 1980-. A revised handbook to the flora of Ceylon.
Govaerts, R. & D. A. Simpson. 2007. World checklist of Cyperaceae, sedges.
Hnatiuk, R. J. 1990. Census of Australian vascular plants. Australian Flora and Fauna Series No. 11.
Keay, R. W. J. & F. N. Hepper. 1953-1972. Flora of west tropical Africa, ed. 2.
Steenis, C. G. G. J. van, ed. 1948-. Flora malesiana.

Economic Uses

Usage	Type	Note	Reference
Human food	starch	tubers are eaten cooked or raw	Flach, M. & F. Rumawas, eds. 1996. Plants yielding non-seed carbohydrates. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 9:97-100.
Human food	vegetable	tubers are eaten cooked or raw	Flach, M. & F. Rumawas, eds. 1996. Plants yielding non-seed carbohydrates. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 9:97-100.
Weed			CIBA-GEIGY, Basel, Switzerland. Documenta CIBA-GEIGY (Grass weeds 1. 1980, 2. 1981; Monocot weeds 3. 1982; Dicot weeds 1. 1988) Note: four books on weeds worldwide in scope

Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=14976. Accessed 15 April 2026.