Water Pepper

SummerSpring

Aug 6

Written By luke jefford

How To ID Me And What I’m Good For?

My ID Features:

Water Pepper

Latin Name - Persicaria Hydropiper (Previously, Polygonum Hydropiper)

Common Names - Water Pepper, Marshpepper Knotweed, Arse Smart, Arsesmart, Tade, Yanagi Tade, Smartweed.

Family - Polygonaceae.

Season - Summer - Autumn.

Edible bits - Leaves and pre-flowering tops.

Habitat - This plant loves damp muddy soil. Favouring the edges of slow-moving water courses. Such as, streams, rivers and ponds. Though we find it most opportunistically growing in damp ditches along forest walkways and previously flooded fields. Not a plant you’re likely to find above 500 meters in altitude.

Possible Confusion - Other Wild UK Persicaria species. Most likely Red Shank [Persicaria Maculosa], Pale Persicaria [Persicaria Lapathifolia], Amphibious Bistort [Persicaria Amphibia]. Though all of these are edible too. It is worth nothing that Water Pepper also has a much rarer similar species called Tasteless Water Pepper [Persicaria Mitis]. Whilst also edible, it isn’t recommended to eat this species due to its rarity. This plant has hairs on the midrib below the leaf. With a quick taste, as its name suggests, it’s not spicy. So if your tastebuds haven’t been set alite, then leave this patch alone and move on to the next.

Description - This is a fairly common plant throughout the UK. It also has an extensive range including, Australia, New Zealand, Eurasia and North America.

It’s English name refers to the hot tasting leaves which rival chilli. Whilst the heat doesn’t last as long as chilli, the initial punch, in our opinion, is much stronger! This plant has no smell, but a very pungent taste. Much like Tasmanian pepper it produces numbness in the tongue and mouth. There’s lots of science behind why, but we won’t go into that here. It’s one of those plants, that when first foraged, it immediately becomes a part of your foraging calendar!

In Japanese cuisine, Water Pepper is used wherever pungency is required, without masking the original flavour, such as in fish recipes and sushi. It is known in Japan as, Tade. The leaves from a cultivated Water Pepper are used as a vegetable, but its wild counterpart has a far hotter taste. We believe that in Japanese cuisine a subspecies named ‘Maximowiczii’ is used. Although, happy to be corrected on this.

The seed is used as a condiment and a strong pepper substitute, again similar to Tasmanian Peppercorns. Water pepper seeds were used as a substitute for black pepper in Germany in the years after World War II, but are not commercially available these days.

Warnings - In India, the Mishing women in Assam take the dried root powder of P. hydropiper for termination of pregnancy and it may lead to permanent sterility if taken continuously for more than a year. In a scientific study here, it is concluded:

“In the present study, GCMS analysis of the methanolic dry root extract of P. hydropiper reveals the presence of 78 phytocompounds, three of which are estrogenic. Two of the estrogenic compounds, stigmasterol and 3-deoxyestradiol are known to possess potent antifertility properties. Keeping in view about the presence of certain compounds with antifertility properties and the effect of the extract as a whole for pregnancy suppression, this plant may be regarded as a potential source of new compounds of therapeutic value as well as for the development of the new contraceptive drug.”

We’ve been down a 3 day rabbit hole with studying this plant. And, while we can only find studies pertaining to the root and its antifertility properties. We wouldn’t advise any expectant or breastfeeding mothers to consume this plant. Or, any wild plant for that matter.

Wild water pepper produces oils that can cause skin irritation and phototoxicity in some. So it’s best to use gloves if you feel the need. Many species of this genus also contain oxalic acid. Though cooking can reduce the levels significantly. Care should be taken by those with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones or hyperacidity, since it can aggravate their condition. But, that would also be the case with Sorrel, Rhubarb or other Oxalic Acid containing species.

Physical Characteristics

Leaves

Lanceloate-shaped leaves (shaped like a spearhead) typically reach about 7- 15 cm long. The leaf narrowly tapers towards the base. The leaf margins always have fine hairs and completely lack hairs on the underside. Unlike its close relative redshank, mentioned earlier, the Water Pepper does not have any large dark smudges or spots on its leaves.

Petioles

The part of the leaf which attaches to the stem, called a petiole. This is typically no longer than 5cm.

Stems

The stems can reach up to around 80cm when they’re in flower. They can either be red all over or as pictured coloured red just below the nodes.

A major identifying family feature is found on the stems. If you look at the node you will find a papery sheath surrounding it. As seen in our last ID picture. This eventually turns brown and will fall off as the plant matures.

flowers

Their beutiful flowers are produced on a loose, drooping raceme that initially looks like a spike. We most often find the flowers coloured white, but they’re most commonly rose-pink. The flowers themselves have no petals and 5 sepals only.

fruits / nutlets

The small fruits are tiny little black to brown nuts. They have three-angled edges and grow anywhere up to 4mm long.

Medicinal Qualities - Warnings aside, P. hydropiper has a wide range of traditional uses for medicinal purposes. In Europe, the plant has been used as diuretic and to regulate menstrual irregularities. In addition, decoction of the whole plant, either alone or mixed with other medicinal plants, is also given for diarrhea, dyspepsia, itching skin, excessive menstrual bleeding and hemorrhoids. The leaves and seeds are used in a folk medicine against cancer. The Romanian people in Oltenia utilized infusion of the aerial part as astringent and cicatrising, as well as for gastric, pulmonary problems, and uterine hemorrhages.

Water Pepper has been used throughout the world for many an ailment. And, many scientific studies have been conducted on it’s previously traditional uses. There is a really good study here, of which the above quote was taken from.

Harvesting Sustainability - Only take what you need. Using scissors to cut away the plants tips or seeds.

Saftey Note - Be careful to pick away from human or animal contaminants.

Never munch on a hunch! Volf takes no responsibility for anything consumed.

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