Edible aquarium plants?

[Ags11]

I had this question today - are any aquarium plants edible? Is it possible to make a green salad from aquarium contents?

 

[Sarpijk]

As far as I have read Limnophila Aromatica is used as a herb in Asian Cuisine and it tastes lemony.

 

[tiger15]

Two common aquatic plants that are edible are Limnophila aromatica (rice paddy herb) and hydrocotyle leucocephala (Brazilian pennywort). The former has a basil lemon aroma that is popular in SE Asian cuisine, and the latter has a peppery taste. Both are fast grower, decorative and the trimmings can be added to salad green.

 

[Parablennius]

I'm pretty sure that I read that Ceratopteris is eaten in it's native land.

 

[ommmartin]

wow...now i'd never thought of that... but here in the west of ireland i often forage for seaweeds...its a beautiful thing to do and eat and also inspires the aquascaping...at source!
looking at the hardscape and softscape of local waterfalls and rivers and coastline is really what my hobby is...and then I clumsily attempt to replicate it at home!...getting hands dirty and boots in the soil...getting better slowly...looking closely....

I guess if we are to eat our aquatic plants we need to think carefully about fertilisation....

But what a fantastic notion...underwater microgreens....its a brilliant idea...
watercress?

 

[zozo]

http://www.ozwatergardens.com.au/edible-aquatic-plants

 

[tiger15]

http://www.ozwatergardens.com.au/edible-aquatic-plants

It’s a good source of info if one needs to survive in the wilderness, but I won’t eat duck weed, vals, water lettuce, Hornwort and most plants in the list under normal circumstances.

A few plants in the list I’ve eaten and love are water cress, aquatic mint and lotus, but they are pond plants not suitable for aquarium. Off the list is water spinach, along with lotus roots and seeds, are commonly served in Chinese restaurant I love to eat. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipomoea_aquatica

I love the aroma of Limnophila aromatica which I used to grow it in my tank but didn’t make it. I may try its relative Limnophila hippuridoides which is equally aromatic but more ornamental. I used to grow Brazilian pennywort and tried it but didnt like the grassy taste. I’ve never had lemon Bacopa and wonder if it taste good.

It’s good to grow stem plants and harvest the trimmings to double as salad herb.

 

[Radiant]

Apparently Bacopa is very bitter, but good for you. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/bacopa-plants/brahmi-plant-care-and-uses.htm
Not sure how much i'd trust eating it though. I have Bacopa compact which i believe is Monnieri. My other half is adventurous with food - I will see if he will give it a nibble tomorrow