Spermatophyta: Monocotyledonae

Alismataceae - Water-plantain family

Literature

Carter, S. (1960) Alismataceae FTEA

Gibbs Russell, G.E. (1977) Keys to Vascular Aquatic Plants in Rhodesia Kirkia 10(2) 411-502

Martins, E.S. & Catarino, L. (2009) Alismataceae FZ 12(2)

Description of the family

Glabrous, scapose, perennial, aquatic or swamp, herbs (in ours), with latex. Leaves erect, rarely floating or submerged, basal; petiole with an expanded sheathing base. Leaf lamina entire, simple. Inflorescence compound or simple, composed of whorls of branches or flowers; bracts 2 or 3 at the base of each whorl and sometimes several bracteoles. Flowers actinomorphic, bisexual or unisexual. Sepals 3, persistent, herbaceous. Petals 3, rarely 0. Stamens 3,6,9 or more. Carpels superior, 3-many, 1-locular. Fruit a cluster of achenes, arranged either spirally or in a single whorl.

The specimens for this family in SRGH were on loan and therefore no detailed records were available.

Worldwide: 14 genera and 100 species, cosmopolitan, but especially Northern temperate zones.

Links to genera: (5) View: living plant images - herbarium specimen images - all images for this family

Genus	Content
Alisma L.	Description, Image
Burnatia Micheli	Description
Caldesia Parl.	Description
Limnophyton Miq.	Description
Wiesneria Micheli

Other sources of information about Alismataceae:

Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Alismataceae page
Flora of Mozambique: Alismataceae
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network) taxonomy for plants report for Alismataceae
Google: Web - Images - Scholar