Су өсімдігі: Су бұрышы (Persicaria hydropiper) сипаттамасы

Species of plant

Persicaria hydropiper (syn. Polygonum hydropiper), also known as water pepper, marshpepper knotweed, arse smart or tade, is a plant of the family Polygonaceae. A widespread species, Persicaria hydropiper is found in Australia, New Zealand, temperate Asia, Europe and North America. The plant grows in damp places and shallow water. Cultivated varieties are eaten in East Asia for their pungent flavor.

Water pepper is an annual herb with an erect stem growing to a height of The leaves are alternate and almost stalkless. The leaf blades are narrowly ovate and have entire margins fringed by very short hairs. They are tapering with a blunt apex. Each leaf base has stipules which are fused into a stem enclosing sheath that is loose and fringed at the upper end. The inflorescence is a nodding spike. The perianth of each tiny flower consists of four or five segments, united near its green base and white or pink at the edges. There are six stamens, three fused carpels and three styles. The fruit is a dark brown oval, flattened nut. P. hydropiper is an annual, and prefers damp environments for optimal growth; it will readily grow in riparian zones on the banks of streams and rivers, but can also grow in other areas where water collects, such as on the banks of canals, tyre and hoof tracks in woodlands, waterlogged soil, and around gates in fields. P. hydropiper is also tolerant of partial shade and base poor soil. In the United Kingdom, where the plant is native, it can grow at any altitude between sea level and 505 metres.

Water pepper has several active ingredients. Two bicyclic sesquiterpenoids are present, polygodial (tadeonal, an unsaturated dialdehyde with a drimane backbone), and warburganal, which gives it its pungent taste. The plant also contains rutin, a source of the bitter taste impression. Water pepper contains an essential oil (0.5%) which consists of monoterpenoids and sesquiterpenoids: α pinene, β pinene, 1,4 cineol, fenchone, α humulene, β caryophyllene, trans β bergamotene. Carboxylic acids (cinnamic, valeric and caproic acid) and their esters were present in traces. The composition depends strongly on genetic factors. Wild water pepper produces oils that cause skin irritation.

Water pepper is eaten in Japan, where it is known as tade (蓼), or more specifically, yanagi tade (柳蓼). The leaves are used as a vegetable, but only from the cultivar, not the wild type which has a far more pungent taste. The herb is usually sold in markets as seedlings. Young red sprouts are known as beni tade (紅蓼), and are used to garnish sashimi, tempura, and sushi. It is popular for summer cooking. Though mammals do not eat wild water pepper, some insects do, giving rise to the Japanese saying "Tade kuu mushi mo sukizuki" (蓼食う虫も好き好き "Some insects eat water pepper and like it"), which may be translated as "There is no accounting for taste" or "Each to his own."