Alismataceae
(Water-Plantain Family)
Habit
- aquatic herbs with white
latex
Leaves
-
basal or submerged in water often bladeless;
if
emergent often with expanded blades
Flowers
-
whorled,
umbellate,
thyrsoid
Sepals
- 3
Petals
- 3
petaloid (usu. white and
crumpled)
Stamens
- 6-many
Carpels
- numerous,
distinct (
apocarpous); all
superior with 1
ovule
Fruit
- an
aggregate of
achenes
Diversity
- 16 genera/ca 100 species
Distribution
- cosmopolitan; most North Temperate
Economics
- pond/aquarium ornamentals
Notes
-
Images
-
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