Not commonly known in the west, the ling chiao (water caltrop) has enjoyed a long history in China and Japan. According to early records, the ling chiao was cultivated as a worship offering as early as Chou dynasty times (1122 B.C.). An aquatic plant, the ling chiao became a vital source of livelihood for those people dwelling in lake regions.
倒是它的果實﹘ ﹘「菱角」，千百年來一直是人們喜歡的食物，根據文獻記載，我國在周朝以前就已種植，周禮中且有以菱角祭祀的記錄。