Family: Alismataceae
American water-plantain, common water-plantain, southern water-plantain
[Alisma parviflorum Pursh, more...]
from USDA Plants Website
Josh Sulman
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Robert W. Freckmann Herbarium (UWSP)
Etymology: Alisma: Greek name for a water plant
Plants: erect or floating, perennial, semi-aquatic to aquatic, 4"-40" tall
Leaves: in basal rosette, with parallel veins, ovate to elliptical, long-stalked, smooth and firm, aquatic or terrestrial
Flowers: white to pink, 3-parted, 1/8" wide, petals only slightly longer than the sepals; inflorescence taller than the leaves and with 4 or more whorls of flowers per stalk; blooms May-Sept.
Fruits: dense ring of dry seeds; seed with 1 groove on the back
Habitat: shallow water; in muddy soil
Conservation Status: Native
Plants: erect or floating, perennial, semi-aquatic to aquatic, 4"-40" tall
Leaves: in basal rosette, with parallel veins, ovate to elliptical, long-stalked, smooth and firm, aquatic or terrestrial
Flowers: white to pink, 3-parted, 1/8" wide, petals only slightly longer than the sepals; inflorescence taller than the leaves and with 4 or more whorls of flowers per stalk; blooms May-Sept.
Fruits: dense ring of dry seeds; seed with 1 groove on the back
Habitat: shallow water; in muddy soil
Conservation Status: Native
Emergent or floating leaf aquatic herb of shorelines and near shore zones in lakes, ponds, marshes, rivers, streams and wetlands. Disturbance tolerant.
Common. Discerning A. subcordatum from A. triviale is challenging and nearly impossible if the plant does not have mature fruits or intact flowers. In fruiting specimens, look for a combination of small (less than 4.5 mm diameter) fruiting heads with short (less than 2.3 mm long) achenes.
Common. Discerning A. subcordatum from A. triviale is challenging and nearly impossible if the plant does not have mature fruits or intact flowers. In fruiting specimens, look for a combination of small (less than 4.5 mm diameter) fruiting heads with short (less than 2.3 mm long) achenes.
Flora of North America: Flora of North America Floristic Rating: Coefficient of Conservatism = 3, Wetland Indicator = OBL USDA Plants Database: Federal Distribution and detailed information including photos USGS - Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center: Wetland Plants and Plant Communities of Minnesota and Wisconsin David G. Smith's "Delaware Wilflowers": Beautiful photographs; descriptions Southwest School of Botanical Medicine: Britton & Brown Illustrated Flora - 2nd Edition (1913) "An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada"
Josh Sulman
Gary Fewless
Carol Watkins
Carol Watkins
