Euryale ferox aka Euryale

Euryale ferox is a water lily known as foxnut or Gorgon plant. It belongs to the family Nymphaeaceae. Its native range stretches from northern India to the southern Russian Far East and Taiwan. It also grows in China, Japan, Korea, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. Its habitats include ponds and lakes with still or slow water. It is a perennial, but gardeners also grow it as an annual.

The plant grows from a short rhizome beneath the water. RHS gives a garden height of 1.6–3.3 feet [0.5–1 metre]. Its listed spread is 3.3–4.9 feet [1–1.5 metres]. NC State reports a much wider spread of 15 feet [4.6 metres]. It also records leaves 4–5 feet [1.2–1.5 metres] long. Mature leaves float, while some leaves stay below the surface. The round leaves have green tops and purple undersides. Their thick surface has a quilted look. Each stalk joins the leaf at its underside's centre. Sharp spines cover the leaves, stems, and flowers. The plant sheds its leaves seasonally.

The flowers open by day on short, thick stems. Their outer petals range from deep violet to purple-pink. Inner petals or centres are white to yellow. NC State lists spring bloom, while RHS describes summer flowers. The soft fruit is about the size of a small orange. Each fruit holds eight to fifteen pea-sized, white seeds. Fruit harvest falls in summer and autumn. People eat the fruit raw and roast the starchy seeds. Roasting makes the seeds pop. In India, cooks use them in kheer, a pudding or porridge.

Grow this plant in full sun and fertile pond soil. It accepts clay, loam, or sand across a broad pH range. Still water suits it best, though slow flow is also suitable. NC State recommends 0.25–0.67 feet [0.08–0.20 metres] of water for good flowering. RHS rates it H3; NC State lists USDA zones 7–10. Other guidance warns that cool climates limit outdoor survival as a perennial. Keep stored seed moist, and raise seedlings indoors in water. RHS advises greenhouse shelter through their first winter. Move young plants outdoors after frost risk ends.

Its broad floating leaves make a strong pond accent. Growers in China and India also raise it for food. Very young stalks and rhizomes are edible, alongside fruit and seeds. Sources record traditional medicinal uses, but do not establish treatment benefits. RHS reports few pest or disease troubles and no pruning need. PFAF lists no known toxic hazards, though the sharp spines pose a handling risk. Useful Tropical Plants reports a 2013 IUCN assessment of Least Concern.