Water caltrop
Botanical name: Trapa
Water caltrop
Botanical name: Trapa
Description
Water caltrop have been introduced to waterways around the world, and because of their robust growth and tendency to crowd out other species, they are considered a noxious invasive in the US and Australia.. Their scientific name, Trapa, comes from the Latin word calcitrappa, which means "thistle". Its seed pods, which have a variety of pointed and hooked appendages, explain the name. It is entirely separate from commercially-grown water chestnuts, which are in a different genus. 
Species of Water caltrop
Water chestnut
Water chestnut (Trapa natans) is an annual aquatic plant indigenous to parts of Asia and Europe, where it grows in slow-moving water. Commonly called water chestnut, this plant has been cultivated for its seeds for more than 3,000 years in China and South Asia.
Trapa natans var. japonica
Trapa natans var. japonica have been introduced to waterways around the world, and because of their robust growth and tendency to crowd out other species, they are considered a noxious invasive in the US and Australia.. Their scientific name, Trapa, comes from the Latin word calcitrappa, which means "thistle". Its seed pods, which have a variety of pointed and hooked appendages, explain the name. It is entirely separate from commercially-grown water chestnuts, which are in a different genus.
Scientific Classification
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