What: stems, leaves
How: cooked
Where: shallow water, full sun
When: spring, summer, fall
Nutritional Value: extremely high in minerals, contains fair amount of protein
Dangers: accumulates toxic minerals if present in the water or soil.
Bed of alligator weeds.
Closeup of alligator weed stems, leaves, and flowers.
Closeup of alligator weed leaves.
Cooked alligator weed has a mild, pleasant taste and is a wonderful source of minerals. However, the water and mud in which it is growing must be free of any harmful minerals or heavy metals as the plant will gather and concentrate these toxic compounds. This accumulating power has been harnessed for bio-remediation of highly contaminated locations.
