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Botanical Family · Alismatales

Alismataceae

Water-Plantain Or Arrowhead Family

5 speciesOrder Alismatales3+ well-known plants

The Alismataceae family (Water-Plantain Or Arrowhead Family) is a botanical family placed in the order Alismatales. In the SASYA catalogue it spans 5 species across 4 genera. Its members are predominantly herbs. Well-represented genera include Sagittaria, Caldesia and Limnophyton. Several members are valued in traditional medicine. Familiar examples include Arrow Head and Chinese Arrowhead.

Browse all 5 species ↓
Representative ALISMATACEAE specimen
Representative specimen · Alismataceae
Key pattern

Arrow- or heart-shaped leaves on aquatic and marsh herbs, held above the water on long stalks arising from a basal rosette; three-petalled white flowers with numerous separate stamens and carpels ripen into a cluster of dry achenes.

Many species keep their leaves and flowers held above water while roots anchor in submerged mud — an adaptation shared with unrelated aquatic families through convergent evolution, not common ancestry.

Identify the species

Which Alismataceae species is this?

Answer what you can see and narrow it down to a single Alismataceae species.

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Leaf ShapeWhat is the overall shape of the leaf blade?
Linear
Linear (long and narrow, parallel sides)
Ovate (egg-shaped, broad at base)
Sagittate (arrowhead-shaped)

Typical flower & fruit

  • Flower symmetryVariable
  • InflorescenceUmbel
  • FruitNut

Typical of the family — flowering plants only; species can vary.

Notable members

Arrow HeadLimnophyton obtusifoliumArrowheadSagittaria sagittifoliaChinese ArrowheadSagittaria trifolia

All 5 species in ALISMATACEAE

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