# Java Water-Dropwort (*oenanthe javanica*)

The Java Water-Dropwort is a cool plant that grows in water! Its leaves are bright green and can float on the surface, making it look like a little island in a pond.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 1
- **Habitat:** Java Water-Dropwort thrives in wetlands, ponds, and marshes.
- **Also known as:** Floating Water-Dropwort, Java Oenanthe, Javanese Water-Dropwort, Water Dropwort

![Java Water-Dropwort](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Oenanthe_javanica1.jpg&width=800)

Photo: KENPEI, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oenanthe_javanica1.jpg)

## Appearance

The Java Water-Dropwort is a vibrant green perennial with hollow, often slightly ribbed stems. Its compound leaves resemble parsley, while small, delicate white flowers form flat-topped clusters (umbels). Some varieties exhibit striking purple or reddish hues on their stems.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Apiales
- **Family:** Apiaceae
- **Genus:** Oenanthe

## Interesting facts

- It is often called 'water celery' or 'Japanese parsley' for its fresh taste!
- Its hollow stems help it stand tall and breathe, even in muddy water!
- This plant is a super popular leafy vegetable across many parts of Asia!
- You can find special types with beautiful purple or reddish stems and leaves!

## Special abilities

- **Wetland Warrior:** Java Water-Dropwort can thrive in waterlogged soil, anchoring itself to prevent being washed away.
- **Spreading Scout:** Java Water-Dropwort has creeping stolons that help it spread quickly and colonize new wet areas.
- **Nutrient Nugget:** Java Water-Dropwort is packed with vitamins and minerals, offering a healthy food source for many.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-100 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer-fall
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Asian honey bee (*Apis cerana*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen.
- **Pollinates:** [Fruit fly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/fruit-fly) (*Drosophila melanogaster*) — Attracted to its small white flowers.
- **Eats:** Spot-billed Duck (*Anas poecilorhyncha*) — Forages on aquatic vegetation in its habitat.

## Traits

- [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Java Water-Dropwort?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Java Water-Dropwort?

30-100 cm

### How wide does Java Water-Dropwort spread?

30-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on Java Water-Dropwort?

0.2-0.5 cm

### When does Java Water-Dropwort bloom?

Summer-fall

### Is Java Water-Dropwort edible?

Yes

### Is Java Water-Dropwort toxic?

None

### What is Java Water-Dropwort's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Stanley M. Rowe Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/stanley-m-rowe-arboretum) — Ohio, US · Botanical Garden
- [Martin Luther King Junior Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/martin-luther-king-junior-park) — Virginia, US · Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Java Water-Dropwort: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/java-water-dropwort)