4. Alisma Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 343. 1753; Gen. Pl. ed. 5; 160, 1754.
Water-plantain [ancient Greek name, adopted by Linnaeus from Dioscorides]
Herbs, perennial, submersed, floating-leaved, emersed, glabrous; rhizomes often present; stolons absent; corms absent; tubers absent. Roots not septate. Leaves sessile or petiolate; petiole triangular; blade with translucent markings absent, linear to ovate, base attenuate to rounded, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute. Inflorescences panicles, of 2--10 whorls, erect, emersed, rarely submersed; bracts delicate, smooth, apex acuminate, surfaces smooth. Flowers bisexual; pedicels ascending; bracts subtending pedicels, lanceolate, shorter than pedicels, apex acuminate; receptacle flattened; sepals erect, not sculptured, herbaceous; petals pink or white, entire; stamens 6--9, filaments filiform, glabrous; pistils 15--20, in ring around margin of flattened receptacle, not radiating in starlike pattern, distinct; ovules 1; styles lateral. Fruits without longitudinal ribs, strongly laterally compressed, abaxial wings absent, lateral wings absent, abaxially 2--3-ribbed, abaxial keel absent, glands absent. x = 7.
Species 9 (5 in the flora): widely distributed, nearly worldwide.
Much controversy surrounds the treatment of Alisma in North America. At present three distinct native species in North America are generally recognized (P. Rubtzoff 1964) as well as the probable occurrence of two introduced species, one in California and the other in Alaska.
SELECTED REFERENCES
Björkquist, I. 1968. Studies in Alisma L. II. Chromosome studies, crossing experiments and taxonomy. Opera Bot. 19: 1--138. Hendricks, A. J. 1957. A revision of the genus Alisma (Dill.) L. Amer. Midl. Naturalist 58: 470--493. Rubtzoff, P. 1964. Notes on the genus Alisma. Leafl. W. Bot. 10: 90--95. Voss, E. G. 1958. Confusion in Alisma. Taxon 7: 130--133.
