Oenanthe javanica | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Eudicots |
(unranked): | Asterids |
Order: | Apiales |
Family: | Apiaceae |
Genus: | Oenanthe |
Species: | O. javanica |
Binomial name | |
Oenanthe javanica (Blume) DC. |
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Synonyms | |
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Oenanthe javanica, Java waterdropwort,Japanese parsley or Chinese celery, is a plant of the water dropwort genus originating from East Asia. (Chinese celery is also the name given to Apium graveolens var. secalinum). It has a widespread native distribution in temperate Asia and tropical Asia, and is also native to Queensland, Australia.
This plant should not be confused with the plants of the genus Cryptotaenia, sometimes called "Japanese wild parsley" (mitsuba in Japanese).
O. javanica is a perennial herb that grows to about 1 m in height, with fibrous roots that emerge from all nodes, and flowers with 5 white petals and 5 stamens. The leaves are aromatic, glabrous, and have a sheath covering the stem. The leaflets are divided into lobes and crinkled. The 'Flamingo' variety has colorful pink edges. The plant grows wild in moist areas, along streams and on the edges or ponds.
While many other species of water dropwort are extremely toxic, Oenanthe javanica is edible, and is cultivated in China, India, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand (ผักชีล้อม), Taiwan, and Vietnam, as well as in Italy, where its spring growths (called seri セリ in Japanese, minari in Korean) are relished as a vegetable. It is one of the ingredients of the symbolic dish consumed in the Japanese spring-time festival, Nanakusa-no-sekku.
It is commonly consumed in the Northeast Indian State of Manipur, where it is called komprek in Meithei. It is one of the main ingredients in Manipuri Eromba and Singju.