Alisma plantago-aquatica

Last updated

Alisma plantago-aquatica
Alisma plantago-aquatica flos1 (cropped).JPG
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Alismatales
Family: Alismataceae
Genus: Alisma
Species:
A. plantago-aquatica
Binomial name
Alisma plantago-aquatica
L., 1753

Alisma plantago-aquatica, also known as European water-plantain, common water-plantain or mad-dog weed, is a perennial flowering aquatic plant widespread across most of Europe and Asia, and apparently spread elsewhere in both the Old and New World.

Contents

Description

Flower AlismaPlantagoBlossom.jpg
Flower

Alisma plantago-aquatica is a hairless plant that grows in shallow water, consists of a fibrous root, several basal long stemmed leaves 15–30 centimetres (6–12 inches) long, and a triangular stem up to 1 metre (3+12 feet) tall. It has branched inflorescence bearing numerous small flowers, 1 cm (12 in) across, with three round or slightly jagged, white or pale purple petals. The flowers open in the afternoon. There are three blunt green sepals and 6 stamens per flower. The carpels often exist as a flat single whorl. [2] It flowers from June until August. [3] The fruits appear as a ring of seeds inside each flower. [3]

Chemistry

Chemical constituents of Rhizoma Alismatis—rhizomes of Alisma orientale (syn. Alisma plantago-aquatica var. orientale) as a traditional Chinese medicine—include alisol A 24-acetate and alisol B 23-acetate. [4] The content of these two compounds are significantly different in Rhizoma Alismatis of different areas.

Similar species

Narrow-leaved water plantain Alisma lanceolatum differs only in that the leaf tips are acuminate and shape is narrow lanceolate.

Image of a water plantain by Theodore Green (1931). Alisma plantago-aquatica (Water plantain) - Theodore Green - 26 1931 10.jpg
Image of a water plantain by Theodore Green (1931).

According to some sources, presumed specimens found in North America are actually the similar A. subcordatum and A. trivale . [3]

Taxonomy

The word alisma is said to be a word of Celtic origin meaning "water", a reference to the habitat in which it grows. Early botanists named it after the Plantago because of the similarity of their leaves. [5]

Distribution and habitat

The species is widespread across most of Europe and Asia from Portugal and Morocco to Japan, Kamchatka and Vietnam. It is also regarded as native in northern and central Africa as far south as Tanzania, and in Australia. [6] It is reportedly naturalized in southern Africa, New Zealand, Alaska, British Columbia, Washington state and Connecticut. [7] [8] [9] Some sources maintain that the species is widespread across North America, but these reports appear to have been based on misidentified specimens. [10] It is found on mud or in fresh waters. [3]

Uses

The rootstocks contain starch and can be boiled or soaked to remove bitterness before eating. Aquatic plants in general should be cooked before consumption to kill parasites. [11]

According to Flora of the U.S.S.R. (1934), "A powder prepared from dried roots is used in popular medicine as a cure for rabies and crushed leaves are used against mammary congestion; fresh leaves are employed in homeopathy. ... Since this species is often confounded or identified with others of the genus, the reported data may also refer to [A. orientale or A. lanceolatum]." [12] A. plantago-aquatica is also known as mad-dog weed, [13] as if it could be used to cure rabies, but should not be confused with Scutellaria lateriflora (mad-dog skullcap), which is also sometimes called mad-dog weed.

Alisma orientale is sometimes treated as a variety of this species (A. plantago-aquatica var. orientale). [14] [15] The rhizomes of A. orientale have been used as a traditional Chinese medicine, ze xie. [16] However, it may have serious side effects or even toxic effects such as hepatotoxicity in patients with chronic hepatitis B. [17]

Related Research Articles

<i>Plantago</i> Genus of flowering plants

Plantago is a genus of about 200 species of flowering plants in the family Plantaginaceae, commonly called plantains or fleaworts. The common name plantain is shared with the unrelated cooking plantain. Most are herbaceous plants, though a few are subshrubs growing to 60 centimetres tall.

<i>Chenopodium album</i> Species of flowering plant in the goosefoot family Chenopodiaceae

Chenopodium album is a fast-growing annual plant in the flowering plant family Amaranthaceae. Though cultivated in some regions, the plant is elsewhere considered a weed. Common names include lamb's quarters, melde, goosefoot, wild spinach and fat-hen, though the latter two are also applied to other species of the genus Chenopodium, for which reason it is often distinguished as white goosefoot. Chenopodium album is extensively cultivated and consumed in Northern India, and Nepal as a food crop known as bathua.

<i>Alisma</i> Genus of aquatic plants

Alisma is a genus of flowering plants in the family Alismataceae, members of which are commonly known as water-plantains. The genus consists of aquatic plants with leaves either floating or submerged, found in a variety of still water habitats around the world. The flowers are hermaphrodite, and are arranged in panicles, racemes, or umbels. Alisma flowers have six stamens, numerous free carpels in a single whorl, each with 1 ovule, and subventral styles. The fruit is an achene with a short beak.

<i>Plantago lanceolata</i> Species of flowering plant in the plantain family Plantaginaceae

Plantago lanceolata is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family Plantaginaceae. It is known by the common names ribwort plantain, narrowleaf plantain, English plantain, ribleaf, lamb's tongue, and buckhorn. It is a common weed on cultivated or disturbed land.

<i>Plantago asiatica</i> Species of flowering plant in the plantain family Plantaginaceae

Plantago asiatica, is a self-fertile, perennial species of flowering plant in the plantain family Plantaginaceae. It is native to East Asia. It grows well in disturbed areas such as roadsides or even dirt roads. It is valued for its use in folk medicine and it also can be used in cooking.

<i>Heteranthera limosa</i> Species of water hyacinth

Heteranthera limosa is an annual flowering plant in the water hyacinth family known by the common names ducksalad and blue mudplantain. It grows in shallow water or on mud. It is considered a threatened species in parts of the central United States, and an invasive species weed in California, where it is a nuisance in rice paddies. It is also occasional in Florida waterways.

<i>Plantago maritima</i> Species of flowering plant in the plantain family Plantaginaceae

Plantago maritima, the sea plantain, seaside plantain or goose tongue, is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family Plantaginaceae. It has a subcosmopolitan distribution in temperate and Arctic regions, native to most of Europe, northwest Africa, northern and central Asia, northern North America, and southern South America.

<i>Alisma gramineum</i> Species of plant

Alisma gramineum is a small aquatic plant in the water-plantain family. It has several common names including narrowleaf water-plantain, ribbonleaf water-plantain or ribbon-leaved water-plantain, and grass-leaved water-plantain. It grows in mud or submerged in shallow fresh or brackish water in marshy areas.

<i>Alisma lanceolatum</i> Species of plant

Alisma lanceolatum is a species of aquatic plant in the water plantain family known by the common names lanceleaf water plantain and narrow-leaved water plantain. It is widespread across Europe, North Africa and temperate Asia. It is naturalized in Australia, New Zealand, Oregon, California and British Columbia. It is considered a noxious weed in some places.

<i>Sagittaria montevidensis</i> Species of plant

Sagittaria montevidensis is a species of flowering plant in the water-plantain family Alismataceae. Common names include giant arrowhead and California arrowhead.

Plantago debilis is a species of herb native to Australia. Common names include shade plantain and weak plantain.

<i>Plantago rugelii</i> Species of flowering plant in the plantain family Plantaginaceae

Plantago rugelii is an edible species of flowering plant in the plantain family, Plantaginaceae. It is native to North America, where it occurs in eastern Canada and the central and eastern United States. Its common names include American plantain, blackseed plantain, pale plantain, and Rugel's plantain. The species name rugelii honors Ferdinand Ignatius Xavier Rugel (1806-1879), a German-born botanist and pharmacist.

<i>Symphyotrichum lanceolatum</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae native to much of North America

Symphyotrichum lanceolatum is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae native to North America. Common names include panicled aster, lance-leaved aster, and white panicled aster. It is a perennial, herbaceous plant that may reach 1.5 meters tall or more, sometimes approaching 2 m. The lance-shaped leaves are generally hairless but may feel slightly rough to the touch on the top because of tiny bristles. The flowers grow in clusters and branch in panicles. They have 16–50 white ray florets that are up to 14 millimeters long and sometimes tinged pink or purple. The flower centers consist of disk florets that begin as yellow and become purple as they mature.

<i>Damasonium minus</i> Species of aquatic plant

Damasonium minus is a species of flowering plant in the water-plantain family known by the common names starfruit and star-fruit. It is native to Australia, where it occurs everywhere except the Northern Territory. It is perhaps best known as an agricultural weed. It is a major weed of Australian rice crops.

<i>Caldesia parnassifolia</i> Species of aquatic plant

Caldesia parnassifolia, is an aquatic species in the Alismataceae. It is found in slow-moving fresh water.

<i>Alisma canaliculatum</i> Species of plant in the family Alismataceae

Alisma canaliculatum, commonly known as channelled water plantain, is a species of plants in the Alismataceae. It is native to Japan, Korea, the Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan, the Kuril Islands, and China.

Alisma orientale, commonly known as Asian water plantain is a flowering plant species in the genus Alisma found in Asia.

<i>Plantago indica</i> Species of flowering plant in the plantain family Plantaginaceae

Plantago indica, commonly known as branched plantain, sand plantain, or black psyllium, is a flowering plant in the plantain family Plantaginaceae, and is one of a few species in the Plantago genus under the common name psyllium. The plant is native to parts of Africa, Europe, Russia, and Asia, and has been naturalized in many other areas such as Australia and North America. The plant can be found mostly in dry inland areas, such as those that are sandy, and has also naturalized on roadsides and in meadows. The plant is not used broadly as a food source, but has been cultivated for its seeds which serve a medicinal use as a laxative.

References

  1. Lansdown, R.V.; Beentje, H.J. (2017). "Alisma plantago-aquatica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017: e.T164129A84275593. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T164129A84275593.en . Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. Flora of North America v 22, Alisma plantago-aquatica
  3. 1 2 3 4 Spellenberg, Richard (2001) [1979]. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers: Western Region (rev ed.). Knopf. p. 333. ISBN   978-0-375-40233-3.
  4. "Determinations of Active Compositions in Rhizoma Alismatis from Different Areas--《Clinical Medicine & Engineering》2010年10期". Archived from the original on 2012-03-15. Retrieved 2011-01-13.
  5. Rose, Francis (2006). The Wild Flower Key. Frederick Warne & Co. pp. 483–484. ISBN   978-0-7232-5175-0.
  6. "Alisma plantago-aquatica - Water Plantain". Flora of Victoria. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  7. "World Checklist of Selected Plant Families: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew". apps.kew.org. Retrieved 2017-01-26.
  8. Biota of North America Program
  9. "Alisma plantago-aquatica in Flora of China @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. Retrieved 2017-01-26.
  10. Björkquist, I. 1968. Studies in Alisma L. II. Chromosome studies, crossing experiments and taxonomy. Opera Botanica 19: 1-138.
  11. The Complete Guide to Edible Wild Plants. United States Department of the Army. New York: Skyhorse Publishing. 2009. p. 111. ISBN   978-1-60239-692-0. OCLC   277203364.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  12. Flora of the U.S.S.R. Vol. 1. 1968. pp. 220–1. Retrieved June 3, 2012.
  13. "Historical Common Names of Great Plains Plants: Alisma plantago-aquatica L". Archived from the original on 2011-06-08. Retrieved June 3, 2012.
  14. "Alisma plantago-aquatica var. orientale". Germplasm Resources Information Network . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture . Retrieved June 3, 2012.
  15. "Alisma orientale". Germplasm Resources Information Network . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture . Retrieved June 3, 2012.
  16. "SCHEDULE 1 Chinese Herbal Medicines". Chinese Medicine Bill. Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region . Retrieved June 3, 2012. Rhizoma Alismatis (澤瀉) Tuber of Alisma orientalis (Sam.) Juzep.
  17. YUEN, M.-F.; TAM, S.; FUNG, J.; WONG, D. K.-H.; WONG, B. C.-Y. & LAI, C.-L. (October 2006). "Traditional Chinese medicine causing hepatotoxicity in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection: a 1-year prospective study". Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics . 24 (8): 1179–86. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2006.03111.x . PMID   17014576. S2CID   20596518.