Botany
Pusong-lutang is a water plant of the habit of the water lily. Stems are long, floating and rooting at the nodes. Leaves are rounded, heart-shaped, 2.5 to 7.5 cm wide, and on long stalks. Flowers are white but yellow on the base. Corolla lobes are 6 to 8 mm long, and the tube bears a ring of white hairs around the throat. Fruit is a somewhat rounded capsule, and contains 10 to 20 seeds.

Distribution
In shallow lakes, quiet streams, and sometimes rice paddies, at low and medium altitudes; however, ascending in Mount Data to an altitude of 2,100 meters.
Sometimes cultivated in ponds or as an aquarium plant.

Parts used
Stalks, seeds and leaves.

Uses
Culinary
In China, reported edible use.
Folkloric
In India, stalks and leaves are pounded with oil and applied to ulcers and insect bites. Also, used as a substitute for Valeriana hardwickii in neurological disorders and colic.
Decoction used as wash for parasitic skin complaints.
Seeds eaten to destroy or prevent intestinal worms.
Reported use for fever and jaundice.

Availability
Wild-crafted.

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Limnanthemum cristatum (Roxb.) Griseb. / Indian Medicinal Plants: An Illustrated Dictionary / C. P. Khare