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Alisma plantago-aquatica
  • Great Water Plantain

a perennial member of the Alisma genus in the family Alismataceae.

248px
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsaquatic
    Aquatic
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 6
    Zone 6
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Alisma plantago-aquatica has 0 edible uses listed
Alisma plantago-aquatica has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

The fresh leaves and roots are toxic but the toxic principal is destroyed by heat or by drying[1][2].

Edible uses

Notes

Root - cooked[1][2][3][4]. Rich in starch[5]. Caution is advised, the root is acrid if it is not dried or well cooked before use[6][7]. Leaves and petioles - must be thoroughly cooked. They require long boiling and have a salty flavour[8][9].

Leaves

Unknown use

Root

Unknown use

Material uses

There are no material uses listed for Alisma plantago-aquatica.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The leaves are antibacterial, anticholesterolemic, diaphoretic, diuretic, hypoglycaemic and hypotensive[10][11][12]. They are used in the treatment of cystitis, dysentery, renal calculus, gravel etc[10]. The fresh leaf is rubefacient[13]. It is used in the treatment of leprosy[14] and is also applied locally to bruises and swellings[10].

Dried stem bases eaten, or grated and taken with water in treating digestive disorders such as heartburn, cramps and stomach flu[15]. The powdered seed is an astringent, used in cases of bleeding[10]. The seed is also said to promote sterility[14]. The root has a wide range of medicinal uses[12][14]. It is antibacterial, anticholesterolemic, diuretic and hypotensive[12]. It is said to lower blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels[16] whilst it also has an antibacterial action on Staphylococcus, Pneumococci and Mycobacterium[12]. The root is used in the treatment of oliguria, oedema, nephritis, acute diarrhoea, cholesterolaemia and fatty liver[12]. It has been thought of as a cure for rabies, though this has not been substantiated[10]. The whole plant is believed to promote conception[14]. The root is harvested before the plant comes into flower and is dried for later use[16].

A homeopathic remedy is obtained from the fresh root[10].

Unknown part

Antibacterial
Anticholesterolemic
Astringent
Contraceptive
Diaphoretic
Diuretic
Hypoglycaemic
Hypotensive
Rubefacient

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

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.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Alisma plantago-aquatica. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Succeeds in a sunny position in boggy ground or shallow water up to 25cm deep[17].

Plants often self-sow aggressively when in a suitable position[18][19]. The subspecies A. plantago-maritima orientale. Sam. is the form used medicinally in China[12]. 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].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Alisma plantago-aquatica. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Alisma plantago-aquatica.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Alisma plantago-aquatica
Genus
Alisma
Family
Alismataceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Medicinal uses
[10][11][12][13][14][15][16]
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
[20][17]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
6
Heat Zone
?
Water
aquatic
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    0.9 x 0.45 meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    Flies
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

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    "image:AlismaPlant1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:AlismaPlant1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.2 Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-33545-3 (1975-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.12.2 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.1 Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation (1968-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.1 Chakravarty. H. L. The Plant Wealth of Iraq. ()
    6. ? 6.06.1 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.1 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.1 Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre (1977-00-00)
    10. ? 10.010.110.210.310.410.510.6 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
    11. ? 11.011.1 ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X ()
    12. ? 12.012.112.212.312.412.512.6 Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles (1985-00-00)
    13. ? 13.013.113.2 Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. ISBN 0395467225 (1990-00-00)
    14. ? 14.014.114.214.314.4 Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4 (1985-00-00)
    15. ? 15.015.1 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
    16. ? 16.016.116.2 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
    17. ? 17.017.1 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    18. ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    19. ? Muhlberg. H. Complete Guide to Water Plants. E. P. Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-7158-0789-7 (1982-00-00)
    20. ? Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (1962-00-00)

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    "image:AlismaPlant1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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    Facts about "Alisma plantago-aquatica"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyAlismataceae +
    Belongs to genusAlisma +
    Has common nameGreat Water Plantain +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partLeaves + and Root +
    Has edible useUnknown use +
    Has fertility typeFlies +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone6 +
    Has imageAlismaPlant1.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has mature height0.9 +
    Has mature width0.45 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAntibacterial +, Anticholesterolemic +, Astringent +, Contraceptive +, Diaphoretic +, Diuretic +, Hypoglycaemic +, Hypotensive + and Rubefacient +
    Has primary imageAlismaPlant1.jpg +
    Has search namealisma plantago-aquatica + and x +
    Has shade toleranceNo shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameAlisma plantago-aquatica +
    Has water requirementsaquatic +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +