Alisma, water plantains |
Flower of the european water-plantain (Alisma plantago-aquatica)
Leaves of the european water-plantain (Alisma plantago-aquatica)
While Caspar Bauhin still listed the plants below Plantago, Linnaeus in 1753 published the description of seven species of Alisma in his Species Plantarum.
The approximately 10 species of the genus Alisma are found worldwide. The perennial plants grow above or below the water surface. The lactiferous herbs are upright and possess a rhizome. The submerged, emersed or floating leaves are concentrated basal. Either they are stalkless or tapering into a leaf-stalk or they have a well-developed, triangular petiole. The stems are sheathed by the petiole. The leaf blade is lanceolate to ovate, simple and entire.
The
flowers are arranged in pyramid-shaped, sometimes submerged, often
multi-branched inflorescences. They consist of successive false whorls,
sometimes surrounded by bracts. The branches in turn contribute
multiple false whorls of 3–12 stalked flowers and may
be branched further. The flower-stalks are often
surrounded by a
lance-shaped, pointed bract, which is shorter than the peduncle.
The
white
or pink flowers consist
of 3 sepals and 3 petals, which are arranged offset in relation to each
other. The petals are simple or emarginate. Mostly 6 stamens and 10–20
free, superior carpels are placed respectively in a single row.
After insect pollination a triangular wreath is formed consist of single-seeded nut fruits (achenes), which are buoyant for several days. The seeds are light brown, strongly flattened and rounded at the top. On the back side they are ribbed one- to three-fold and on the ventral side they have a short beak.
Floral formula: |
* K3 C3 A6 bzw. A9 G∞ superior |
Historical publications
Dioscorides (1st century B.C) reported on the Alisma, it has plantain-like leaves, a thin stem, delicate white flowers and would prefer damp places. It would be a drug for those who have eaten the sea hare (Aplysia depilans), who had been drinking opium or were bitten by the toad. The same also wrote Pliny (approx. 23–79 AD).
Leonhart Fuchs (1501–1566) wrote, the water plantain would also be called "Froschlöffel" (frog spoon), because the leaves are shaped like spoons, and it would growing where frogs live. Because it would be equal to the plantain and grew in damp places, it would be called Plantaginem aquaticam. Whether the Greeks and Latins knew the plant, he could not say. The healing effects would be the same as that of plantain.
Pietro Andrea Mattioli (1501–1577) wrote about water plantain it has, like the plantain, thick, juicy and green leaves. The stems have many side branches with small, white, dainty flowers. It has whitish roots and grew in swamps and ditches. Also Matthioli treated the plant as plantain and assigns it the same healing effects
Meaning of the species name
- plantago-aquatica: Refers to the old name Plantago aquatica (water plantain)
Interesting notes
The european water plantain in China is called "Ze Xie". The tuberous rhizome is traded under the same name and is supposed to help against diarrhea, diabetes, edema and urinary retention.
The starchy rhizome of the european water plantain is toxic in the raw state, cooked it should be edible.