Taxonomy
of Flowering Plants - LECTURE
NOTES - Spring, 1998
Hugh
D. Wilson - rm. 306,
Butler Hall
13 April 1998
The Alismatidae
Family Overview - Alismatales
Alismataceae - the Water Plantain Family
Diversity: Aquatic or wetland
herbs, usually perennial from thick, edible rhizomes and often with broad,
dicot-like leaves. About 12 genera and 75 species.
Distribution: Worldwide
and centered in aquatic situations, i.e., not common elements of any flora
BUT usually present and conspicuous in wetlands. We have 3 genera (Sagittaria,
Alisma, and Echinodorus) and 13 species in
the Texas flora.
Floral structure:
Significant features: An
monocot analog to the Ranunculaceae in that these are apocarpus herbs.
While the flowers can be perfect, they are often unisexual and the speces
are monoecious.
Floral Structure (from
the University
of Hawaii)
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Alisma (perfect)
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Echinodorus (perfect)
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Sagittaria cuneata (monoecious)
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Local Sagittaria:
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plant/habitat
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pistillate flowers
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staminate flower
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More information on the Alismataceae
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Notes, the Botany
201 homepage, or the Alismatidae
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