ALISMATACEAE - WATER-PLANTAIN FAMILY
Scientific Description:
Aquatic or semi-aquatic, usually perennial herbs. Rootstock corm-like or stoloniferous. Leaves simple, linear to ovate, sometimes sagittate, petioles sheathing at base. Inflorescence usually a raceme or panicle of simple or branched whorls, sometimes umbel-like, with 2−3 bracts at base of each whorl. Flowers hermaphrodite or unisexual. Sepals 3, green, persistent; petals 3, fugacious. Stamens 6 or numerous. Ovary superior; carpels free or united at base, 3 to numerous, spirally arranged or whorled. Fruit usually an indehiscent 1-seeded nutlet, rarely dehiscent at base and with 2 to several seeds.
Reference:
Davis PH (1984). Alismataceae, In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 8: 5.
Public Description:
The “water-plantains family” contains usually perennial freshwater flowering plants. The water-plantains are commonly found in shallow water and swamps or on muddy banks or wet sand. Some are grown as ornamental plants in bog gardens, ponds and aquariums. Several species, notably in the genus “Sagittaria L. (arrowhead)”, have edible rhizomes, grown for both human food and animal fodder in southern and eastern Asia. They were also eaten as food by the indigenous peoples of North America.
References:
Anonymous 1 (2015). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alismataceae, Accessed date: 19.12.2015.
Anonymous 2 (2015). http://www.britannica.com/plant/Alismataceae, Accessed date: 19.12.2015.
