Everything about The Alismataceae totally explained
The
Alismataceae or
water-plantain family is a family of
flowering plants, comprising 11 genera and between 85-95 species. The family has a
cosmopolitan distribution, with the greatest number of species in temperate regions of the
Northern Hemisphere. Most of the species are
herbaceous aquatic plants growing in marshes and ponds.
Description
Most are robust perennials, but some may be
annual or
perennial, depending on water conditions - they're normally perennial in permanent waters, annual in more season conditions but there are exceptions. The stems are corm-like or stoloniferous. Juvenile and submerse
leaves are often linear, whilst more mature and emerse
leaves can be linear to ovate or even sagittate. Most have a distinct petiole, with a sheathed base.
The
inflorescence is usually compound with whorls of branches, though some are umbel-like, and others have solitary
flowers. The
flowers are regular, bisexual or unisexual. Three
sepals which usually persist in the
fruit. Three petals, usually conspicuous, white, pink, purple, occasionally with yellow or purple spots. The
petals rarely last more than one day. In
Burnatia and
Wiesnaria the
petals are minute and even occasionally absent in female
flowers.
Stamens are 3, 6, 9 or numerous.
ovary is superior, comprising 3 - numerous free carpels in one whorl or in a clustered head. Each carpel contains 1 (-2) anatropous ovules.
Fruit is a head of nutlets (except in
Damasonium). The
seeds have no endosperm ans a curved or folded
embryo.
Classification
There are eleven extant genera, and two fossil genera assigned to the Alismataceae:
Cultivation and uses
Several species, notably in the genus
Sagittaria, have edible
rhizomes, grown for both human food and animal feed in southern and eastern Asia. They were eaten as food by North American Indians. Most have value as food for wildlife. Some are grown as
ornamental plants in bog gardens, ponds or aquariums.
Image:Echinodorus isthmicus2.jpg|Echinodorus isthmicusFurther Information
Get more info on 'Alismataceae'.
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