Description
Watercolour illustration commissioned by William Roxburgh. ROX1452. In his 'Flora Indica', Roxburgh describes this species as a native of the fresh water lakes and ponds in the districts of Tippera, Chittagong, to the eastward of Calcutta, where it blossoms most part of the year and is know by the name of Makana. Roxburgh also notes how the farinaceous seeds are appreciated by the natives and considered, by the Hindoo physicians, to have powerful medical virtues, '...such as restraining seminal gleets, invigorating the system, &c.&c.'. He then gives us an account on how the seed is prepared as food: '...a quantity of sand is put into an earthen vessel, placed over a gentle fire, in the sand they put a quantity of the seed, agitate the vessel, or the sand with an iron ladle, the seed swells to more than double its original size, until it becomes light, white and spongy; during the operation the hard husk of the seed breaks in various parts, and then readily separates by rubbing between two boards, or striking it gently with a bye board.'. In the MS of the 'Flora Indica' this species is named 'Euryale ferox'. For conservation reasons this illustration has been photographed partly folded. Roxburgh, 'Flora Indica' (1832) v.2, p.573.
Image Licence
All Rights Reserved
Image Credit
image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew
Location
South Asia
Medium
Watercolour
Tags
Category
Flora & Fauna