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Aquatic and Wetland Vascular Plants of the Northern Great Plains

Alisma L. -- Water plantain

Submersed to completely emersed perennials, cormose, fibrous-rooted and lacking rhizomes. Leaves variable depending upon the degree of submergence; emersed or floating leaf blades ovate, lanceolate or oblong-elliptic, never sagittate; submersed leaves often phyllodial, long-linear and ribbonlike (A. gramineum). Inflorescence a compound panicle, the branches and pedicels whorled, each whorl subtended by 3-several bracts. Flowers all perfect; sepals persistent, not reflexed; petals white or pinkish; stamens 6(9); pistils 10-20. Achenes in a single whorl on a flat receptacle, brown at maturity, grooved on the back, the style beak minute or absent.

References:
  
Fernald, M. L.  1946.  North American representatives of Alisma plantago-
     aquatica.  Rhodora 48:86-88. 

Hendricks, A. J.  1957.  A revision of the genus Alisma (Dill.) L. 
     Amer. Midl. Naturalist 58:470-493. 

Pogan, E.  1963.  Taxonomical value of Alisma triviale Pursh and A. 
     subcordatum Raf.  Can. J. Bot. 41:1011-1013.

Lead	Characteristic	Go To
1	Leaf blades lanceolate to oblong-elliptic or absent when submersed, the leaves then consisting of long, ribbonlike phyllodes; petals usually pinkish, 1-2.5 mm long; mature achenes with a central ridge and 2 lateral ridges down the back.	A. gramineum
1	Leaf blades ovate to broadly lanceolate; petals white or very slightly pinkish, 1-4 mm long; mature achenes with a central groove and 2 lateral ridges down the back.	A. plantago-aquatica

51. Alismataceae, the Water Plantain Family

1. Alisma L. -- Water plantain

1. Alisma gramineum Gmel.

2. Alisma plantago-aquatica L.

Return to Family -- Alismataceae - The Water Plantain Family
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