Water dropwort

Oenanthe stolonifera is an aquatic herb whose young shoots and leaves season Chinese fish soups and poultry dishes with a fresh, parsley-like lift. It is gathered from clean waterways and cultivated beds and used briefly cooked or as a fresh garnish, since long heating flattens its delicate aroma. One caution is non-negotiable: the genus Oenanthe also holds some dangerously poisonous wild species, so foragers and buyers must be certain they have the edible cultivated plant and not a toxic lookalike. As with any aquatic vegetable, thorough washing is standard practice before it reaches the pot.