Alisma plantago-aquatica
Great Water Plantain
a perennial member of the Alisma genus in the family Alismataceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Alismataceae
- Genus
- Alisma
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 0.9 m
- Spread
- 0.45 m
- Fertility
- Flies
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Flies
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The fresh leaves and roots are toxic but the toxic principal is destroyed by heat or by drying[4][18].
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Root - cooked[4][18][20][21]. Rich in starch[3]. Caution is advised, the root is acrid if it is not dried or well cooked before use[10][9]. Leaves and petioles - must be thoroughly cooked. They require long boiling and have a salty flavour[2][8].
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Plant part
- Root
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The leaves are antibacterial, anticholesterolemic, diaphoretic, diuretic, hypoglycaemic and hypotensive[17][5][7]. They are used in the treatment of cystitis, dysentery, renal calculus, gravel etc[17]. The fresh leaf is rubefacient[13]. It is used in the treatment of leprosy[12] and is also applied locally to bruises and swellings[17]. Dried stem bases eaten, or grated and taken with water in treating digestive disorders such as heartburn, cramps and stomach flu[16]. The powdered seed is an astringent, used in cases of bleeding[17]. The seed is also said to promote sterility[12]. The root has a wide range of medicinal uses[7][12]. It is antibacterial, anticholesterolemic, diuretic and hypotensive[7]. It is said to lower blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels[14] whilst it also has an antibacterial action on Staphylococcus, Pneumococci and Mycobacterium[7]. The root is used in the treatment of oliguria, oedema, nephritis, acute diarrhoea, cholesterolaemia and fatty liver[7]. It has been thought of as a cure for rabies, though this has not been substantiated[17]. The whole plant is believed to promote conception[12]. The root is harvested before the plant comes into flower and is dried for later use[14]. A homeopathic remedy is obtained from the fresh root[17].
- Product or use
- Antibacterial
- Product or use
- Anticholesterolemic
- Product or use
- Astringent
- Product or use
- Contraceptive
- Product or use
- Diaphoretic
- Product or use
- Diuretic
- Product or use
- Hypoglycaemic
- Product or use
- Hypotensive
- Product or use
- Rubefacient
Environment
- Range
- Northern temperate regions of Europe, including Britain, Asia and America.
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- aquatic
- Hardiness
- Zone 6+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Place the pot in about 3cm of water to keep the soil wet. Pot up the seedlings when large enough to handle and keep in the cold frame for the first winter, planting out in late spring. Division in spring or autumn. Fairly easy, the divisions can be planted straight out into their permanent positions.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Succeeds in a sunny position in boggy ground or shallow water up to 25cm deep[11]. Plants often self-sow aggressively when in a suitable position[1][19]. The subspecies A. plantago-maritima orientale. Sam. is the form used medicinally in China[7]. The subspecies A. plantago-maritima parviflorum (Syn A. parviflorum, A. subcordatum) is the form used medicinally in America[13]. Plants are very attractive to slugs[K].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Chakravarty. H. L. The Plant Wealth of Iraq.
Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3
? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00
Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977-00-00
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Baines. C. Making a Wildlife Garden.
Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Muhlberg. H. Complete Guide to Water Plants. E. P. Publishing Ltd. 1982-00-00 ISBN 0-7158-0789-7
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00