Spermatophyta: Monocotyledonae: Alismatales

Alismataceae - Water-plantain family

Carter, S. (1960) Alismataceae Flora of Tropical East Africa

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

Martins, E.S. & Catarino, L. (2009) Alismataceae Flora Zambesiaca 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.

Comment: 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.

Zimbabwe: 1 cultivated genus and 1 cultivated taxon.

Links to cultivated genera: View: living plant images - herbarium specimen images - all images for this family

Genus	Content
Alisma L.	Description, Image

Other sources of information about Alismataceae:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Alismataceae
Flora of Burundi: Alismataceae
Flora of Caprivi: Alismataceae
Flora of the DRC: Alismataceae
Flora of Malawi: Alismataceae
Flora of Mozambique: Alismataceae
Flora of Rwanda: Alismataceae
Flora of Zambia: Alismataceae
Flora of Zimbabwe: Alismataceae

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Alismataceae
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Alismataceae
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Alismataceae
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Alismataceae
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Alismataceae
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Alismataceae
JSTOR Plant Science: Alismataceae
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Alismataceae
Wikipedia: Alismataceae
Plants of the World Online: Alismataceae
Tropicos: Alismataceae