Water plantain

Water Plantain is a common name for several plants in the family Alismataceae, and may refer to species in the genera Alisma, Baldellia, and Luronium. These aquatic plants are native to temperate and tropical regions worldwide, with the highest diversity in the Northern Hemisphere.

Description

Water plantains are perennial herbs that grow in marshes, ponds, and other shallow water bodies. They have long, slender leaves that are either submerged or floating, and small, white or pink flowers that bloom in the summer. The plants produce a large number of seeds, which are dispersed by water.

Species

The genus Alisma includes about 11 species, the most well-known of which is Alisma plantago-aquatica, or European water plantain. Baldellia and Luronium each contain a single species, Baldellia ranunculoides and Luronium natans respectively.

Uses

Water plantains have been used in traditional medicine for centuries. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Alisma plantago-aquatica is known as ze xie and is used to treat kidney and urinary tract disorders. The plant is also used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat a variety of ailments.

Conservation

Some species of water plantain are threatened by habitat loss and pollution. Luronium natans, for example, is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

See also

• List of Alismataceae genera
• Aquatic plants
• Wetland plants