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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Local Sagittaria:
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More information on the Alismataceae