Quiapo in Manila is named after this plant – Kiapo (Pistia stratiotes)

Pistia is a genus of aquatic plant in the arum family, Araceae. The single species Pistia comprises is often called water cabbage, water lettuce, Nile cabbage, or shellflower. It is an invasive plant in tropical and sub-tropical regions.

Dr Abe V Rotor

                          

Pistia stratiotes, as this floating plant is scientifically called, may cover an entire stream or waterway. Photo by Dr Abe V Rotor  

 It must have been abundant on the Pasig River in the area where Quiapo is located, hence the name of the district. In the same manner, Manila is derived from the name of a plant, maynilad a cat-tail of the genus Typha and Family Cyperaceae. The plant must have covered much of the shores and swampy areas of Pasig River. 

Summary of Invasiveness

 

P. stratiotes is a perennial monocotyledonous aquatic plant present, either naturally or through human introduction, in nearly all tropical and subtropical fresh waterways. It floats on the water surface, with roots hanging below floating leaves. Its growth habit can make it a weed in waterways, where it can kill native submerged plants and reduce biodiversity. It is a common aquatic weed in the USA, and may clog waterways in warmer states such as Florida. It is listed as a noxious weed or invasive aquatic plant in some states of the USA (USDA-NRCS, 2012).

Native and Folkloric Uses of Kiapo 

Reference Philippine Medicinal Plants (Internet)
- Used as a famine food in India in 1877-1878.
- In China, young leaves are eaten cooked.
- Leaves added to soup; prior parboiling advised to removed acridity from calcium oxalate crystals.
- Infusion of leaves used for dropsy, bladder complaints, kidney afflictions, diabetes, hematuria, dysentery, and anemia.
- Used for dysuria and as an expectorant.
- Poultice of pounded leaves used in hemorrhoids, tumors and boils.
- The juice of leaves, mixed with coconut oil, is used for a variety of chronic skin conditions.
- Leaves mixed with rice and coconut milk, given for dysentery; with rose water and sugar, used for coughs and asthma.
- Ash of the plant applied to ringworm
- Powdered dry leaves mixed with a little honey used for syphilis, 3 to 4 teaspoons a day.
- Leaves used for treatment of ringworm of scalp, syphylitic eruptions, skin infections, boils and wounds.
- Oil extract used for worm infestations, tuberculosis, asthma, dysentery, piles, ulcers, burns.
- Used for menorrhagia.
- Ash of leaves applied to ringworm of the scalp.
- In Gambia, plant is used as an anodyne eyewash.
- In China, used in various prescriptions for boils, syphilitic eruptions and skin complaints.
- In the Peruvian Amazon, used for arthritis.
- In Indian traditional medicine, leaves are used for the treatment of ringworm infection of the scalp, syphilitic eruptions, skin infections, dysuria, boils and wounds. Oil extract used for worm infestations, TB, asthma, dysentery, hemorrhoids, ulcers, syphilitic infections and burns.
- Owing to high potash content, used as diuretic; also used for gonorrhea.
- Sometimes used for feeding hogs and ducks.
- Used for making soap in West Tropical Africa.
- Plant used with soap to removed stains out of clothing.
- Leaves considered insecticidal.