# Alismataceae > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Alismataceae > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Alismataceae.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alismataceae > Source revision: 1330813597 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Family of flowering plants comprising the water-plantains}} {{Automatic taxobox |image = Sagittaria latifolia (flowers).jpg |image_caption = ''[Sagittaria latifolia](/source/Sagittaria_latifolia)'' |taxon = Alismataceae |fossil_range={{fossil_range|Upper Cretaceous|Recent|ref={{Cite web|url=https://paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon_no=55790|title=Paleobiology Database: Family Alismataceae Ventenat 1799}}}} |authority = [Vent.](/source/%C3%89tienne_Pierre_Ventenat){{Citation |last=Angiosperm Phylogeny Group |year=2009 |title=An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG III |journal=Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society |volume=161 |issue=2 |pages=105–121 |doi=10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.00996.x |doi-access=free |hdl=10654/18083 |hdl-access=free }} |type_genus = ''[Alisma](/source/Alisma)'' |type_genus_authority = [L.](/source/Carl_Linnaeus) |range_map = Map-Alismataceae.PNG |range_map_caption = Alismataceae distribution map |subdivision_ranks = Genera |subdivision = See text |synonyms = Limnocharitaceae {{small|[Takht.](/source/Takht.) ex [Cronquist](/source/Arthur_John_Cronquist)}} |synonyms_ref = {{cite web |title=Alismataceae Vent. |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77126755-1 |website=[Plants of the World Online](/source/Plants_of_the_World_Online) |publisher=[Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew](/source/Royal_Botanic_Gardens%2C_Kew) |access-date=25 May 2025}} }} The '''water-plantains''' ('''Alismataceae''') are a family of [flowering plant](/source/flowering_plant)s, comprising 20 genera (17 extant and 3 fossil) and 119 species. The family has a [cosmopolitan distribution](/source/cosmopolitan_distribution), with the greatest number of species in [temperate](/source/temperate) regions of the [Northern Hemisphere](/source/Northern_Hemisphere). Most of the species are [herbaceous](/source/Herbaceous_plant) [aquatic plant](/source/aquatic_plant)s growing in [marsh](/source/marsh)es and [pond](/source/pond)s. ==Description== Most Alismataceae are robust [perennials](/source/Perennial_plant), but some may be [annual](/source/Annual_plant) or perennial, depending on water conditions — they are normally perennial in permanent waters, annual in more seasonal conditions but there are exceptions. The [stems](/source/Plant_stem) are [corm](/source/corm)-like or [stolon](/source/stolon)iferous. Juvenile and submerse [leaves](/source/Leaf) are often [linear](/source/Leaf_shape), whilst more mature and emerse leaves can be linear to [ovate](/source/Leaf_shape) or even [sagittate](/source/Leaf_shape). Most have a distinct [petiole](/source/Petiole_(botany)), with a sheathed base. The [inflorescence](/source/inflorescence) is usually compound with whorls of branches, though some are [umbel](/source/umbel)-like, and others have solitary [flower](/source/flower)s. The flowers are regular, bisexual or unisexual. There are three [sepal](/source/sepal)s which usually persist in the [fruit](/source/fruit). Three petals, usually conspicuous, white, pink, purple, occasionally with yellow or purple spots. The [petal](/source/petal)s rarely last more than one day. In ''[Burnatia](/source/Burnatia)'' and ''[Wiesneria](/source/Wiesneria)'' the petals are minute and even occasionally absent in female flowers. [Stamen](/source/Stamen)s are 3, 6, 9 or numerous. The [ovary](/source/Ovary_(plants)) is superior, comprising 3 - numerous free [carpels](/source/Gynoecium) in one whorl or in a clustered head. Each carpel contains 1 (-2) anatropous [ovule](/source/ovule)s.{{clarify|date=March 2023|reason=are these ranges? three to numerous? one (to two)?}} [Fruit](/source/Fruit) is a head of [nutlet](/source/Nut_(fruit))s (except in ''[Damasonium](/source/Damasonium)''). The [seed](/source/seed)s have no [endosperm](/source/endosperm) and a curved or folded [embryo](/source/embryo). ==Classification== Under the [APG III system](/source/APG_III_system), the Alismataceae includes three genera formerly members of the [Limnocharitaceae](/source/Limnocharitaceae). Altogether, there are 18 extant genera and two fossil genera assigned to the Alismataceae:[http://delta-intkey.com/angio/www/alismata.htm Alismataceae] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201125757/http://delta-intkey.com/angio/www/alismata.htm |date=2009-02-01 }} in [http://delta-intkey.com/angio/ L. Watson and M.J. Dallwitz (1992 onwards). The families of flowering plants.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070103200438/http://delta-intkey.com/angio/ |date=2007-01-03 }}{{cite journal | last=Haggard | first=Kristina K. |author2=Tiffney, Bruce H. | year=1997 | title=The Flora of the Early Miocene Brandon Lignite, Vermont, USA. VIII. ''Caldesia'' (Alismataceae) | journal=American Journal of Botany | volume=84 | issue=2 | pages=239–252 | doi=10.2307/2446086 | jstor=2446086 | publisher=Botanical Society of America | pmid=21712204 | doi-access= }}[http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/home.do Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families] {{clade|style=font-size:100%;line-height:100% |label1=Alismataceae |1={{clade |1={{clade |1={{clade |1={{clade |1={{clade |1={{clade |1={{clade |1={{clade |1=''[Sagittaria](/source/Sagittaria)'' |2={{clade |1={{clade |1=''[Limnophyton](/source/Limnophyton)'' |2=''[Astonia](/source/Astonia)'' }} |2=''[Wiesneria](/source/Wiesneria)'' }} }} |2=''[Helanthium](/source/Helanthium)'' }} |2=''[Caldesia](/source/Caldesia)'' }} |2=''[Echinodorus](/source/Echinodorus)'' }} |2=''[Albidella](/source/Albidella)'' }} |2=''[Ranalisma](/source/Ranalisma)'' }} |2={{clade |1={{clade |1=''[Hydrocleys](/source/Hydrocleys)'' |2=''[Butomopsis](/source/Butomopsis)'' }} |2=''[Limnocharis](/source/Limnocharis)'' }} }} |2={{clade |1={{clade |1={{clade |1={{clade |1=''[Alisma](/source/Alisma)'' |2=''[Baldellia](/source/Baldellia)'' }} |2=''[Damasonium](/source/Damasonium)'' }} |2=''[Luronium](/source/Luronium)'' }} |2=''[Burnatia](/source/Burnatia)'' }} }} }} {{div col|colwidth=26em}} *''[Albidella](/source/Albidella)'' Pichon *''[Alisma](/source/Alisma)'' [L.](/source/Carl_Linnaeus) – water-plantain *''[Alismaticarpum](/source/Alismaticarpum)'' † Collinson *''[Aquarius](/source/Aquarius_(plant))'' {{small|Christenh. & Byng}} *''[Astonia](/source/Astonia)'' S.W.L.Jacobs *''[Baldellia](/source/Baldellia)'' [Parl.](/source/Filippo_Parlatore) – lesser water-plantain *''[Burnatia](/source/Burnatia)'' [Micheli](/source/Marc_Micheli) *''[Butomopsis](/source/Butomopsis)'' [Kunth](/source/Kunth) *''[Caldesia](/source/Caldesia)'' Parl. *''[Damasonium](/source/Damasonium)'' [Mill.](/source/Philip_Miller) – starfruit, thrumwort *''[Echinodorus](/source/Echinodorus)'' [Rich.](/source/Louis_Claude_Richard) ex [Engelm.](/source/George_Engelmann) – - burhead, Amazon sword plant *''[Helanthium](/source/Helanthium)'' (Benth. & Hook. f.) Engelm. ex J.G. Sm. *''[Hydrocleys](/source/Hydrocleys)'' [Rich.](/source/Rich.) *''[Limnocharis](/source/Limnocharis)'' [Bonpl.](/source/Bonpl.) *''[Limnophyton](/source/Limnophyton)'' [Miq.](/source/Friedrich_Anton_Wilhelm_Miquel) *''[Luronium](/source/Luronium)'' [Raf.](/source/Constantine_Samuel_Rafinesque-Schmaltz) – floating water-plantain * ''[Nichima](/source/Nichima)'' † L.Hern., Cevallos-Ferriz et Hernández-Damián{{Cite journal|first1=Luis |last1=Hernández-Sandoval| first2=Sergio R. S. |last2=Cevallos-Ferriz |first3=Ana L. |last3=Hernández-Damián |year=2023 |title=Nichima gen. nov. (Alismataceae) based on Reproductive Structures from the Oligocene-Miocene of Mexico|journal=[American Journal of Botany](/source/American_Journal_of_Botany) |volume=110 |issue=10 |article-number=e16231 |doi=10.1002/ajb2.16231|doi-access=free |pmid=37661813 }} *''[Ranalisma](/source/Ranalisma)'' [Stapf](/source/Otto_Stapf_(botanist)) *''[Sagisma](/source/Sagisma)'' † Nikitin *''[Sagittaria](/source/Sagittaria)'' L. - arrowhead, duck potato, katniss, ''omodaka'' ({{langx|ja|沢瀉}}), swamp potato, tule potato, wapato, wapatoo *''[Wiesneria](/source/Wiesneria)'' Micheli {{div col end}} ==Cultivation and uses== [[File:Echinodorus isthmicus2.jpg|thumb|right|''[Echinodorus isthmicus](/source/Echinodorus_isthmicus)'']] Several species, notably in the genus ''[Sagittaria](/source/Sagittaria)'', have edible [rhizome](/source/rhizome)s, grown for both human food and animal [fodder](/source/fodder) in [southern](/source/South_Asia) and [eastern Asia](/source/East_Asia). They were eaten as food by the [indigenous peoples of North America](/source/Indigenous_peoples_of_the_Americas). Most have value as food for wildlife. Some are grown as [ornamental plant](/source/ornamental_plant)s in [bog gardens](/source/Water_garden), [pond](/source/pond)s and [aquarium](/source/aquarium)s. The leaves and flower buds of ''[Limnocharis flava](/source/Limnocharis_flava)'' are eaten in Southeast Asia as "poor people's vegetable".[http://www.skymeadows.info/water-plantain-family Sky Meadows Nature Guide; accessed 2017-07-05] ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.kew.org/science/tropamerica/neotropikey/families/Marantaceae.htm Neotropical Alismataceae] * [https://www.botanical-dermatology-database.info/BotDermFolder/ALISMATACEAE.html Alismataceae] in [https://www.botanical-dermatology-database.info/index.html BoDD – Botanical Dermatology Database] {{EB1911 poster|Alismaceae}} {{Commons category-inline}} {{Wikispecies-inline}} {{Angiosperm families}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q156025}} {{Authority control}} Category:Alismataceae Category:Alismatales families Category:Aquatic plants --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Alismataceae](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alismataceae) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alismataceae?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.