Alismataceae

  
 

 

Genera : 11 - 12

Species: 75- 100

 

Links to Genus Directory of Images:

 

 

Distribution: Cosmopolitan, with the majority in the Northern Hemisphere.

 

Economic Uses: Wetland ornamentals and pond plants. The corms of some species eaten by Native North American peoples.

 

Defining Features of Interest: Although this is a moncot family, it has superficial features in common with the Ranunculaceae, a dicot family.

Fossil Evidence: Fossil plant parts from the Paleocene and Oligocene.

Defining Morphology

Floral Features : Actinomorphic and perfect or unisexual (monoecious or rarely dioecious). Inflorescence as a solitary flower or as whorled panicles, racemes or umbels. Hypogynous.

Fruit and Seed Features : Fruit an achene. Seeds lacking endosperm. Placentation is basal.

Vegetative Features : Habit as semiaquatic or aquatic herbs. Leaves simple and linear, ovate or sagittate. Petiole has a flattened base. Stem is a scape. Stipules lacking.