Alisma facts for kids
Alisma is a group of flowering plants often called water-plantains. These plants live in water, like ponds and slow-moving rivers, all around the world. Their leaves can float on the water or be completely underwater.
Quick facts for kids Alisma |
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| Alisma plantago-aquatica | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Alismatales |
| Family: | Alismataceae |
| Genus: | Alisma L. |
| Species | |
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See text |
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Water-plantains are aquatic plants, meaning they grow in water. You can find them in many still water places around the world. Their flowers have both male and female parts (they are hermaphrodite). These flowers grow in groups called panicles, racemes, or umbels.
Each Alisma flower has six stamens (the male parts) and many separate carpels (the female parts). Each carpel has one ovule, which can become a seed. The fruit of the water-plantain is a small, dry fruit called an achene.
In the 1800s, a British writer named John Ruskin thought the curve of the Alisma leaf veins showed a special 'divine proportion'. He believed this natural pattern helped shape his ideas about Gothic architecture.
In Ireland, the water-plantain is called Copóg Phádraig, which means "Patrick's leaf." People used to believe it could keep fairies away.
Water-plantains are perennial plants, meaning they live for more than two years. These plants usually grow to be about 0.1 to 1 meter (4 to 39 inches) tall. They have wide leaves that can be pointed or rounded at the bottom. If the plant is fully underwater, it grows long, ribbon-like leaves.
The plant's flower stalks are very branched. They produce whorls (rings) of white or pinkish flowers. The fruits are flat, nut-like seeds, about 2.5 to 3 millimeters (0.1 inches) long. Water-plantains usually flower from late May to early September, but this can change depending on the weather and location.
These plants love wetlands. You can find them in very wet soil and shallow water. They also grow in marshes, wooded swamps, shrub swamps, and even flooded farmland. When water-plantains are brought to a new area, they can grow and spread very quickly.
Types of Water-Plantains
There are several different kinds of Alisma plants. Here are a few examples:
- Alisma canaliculatum - found in eastern Asia
- Alisma gramineum - found in Europe, Asia, and North Africa
- Alisma lanceolatum - found in Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and has spread to places like Australia and California
- Alisma plantago-aquatica - found across Europe, Asia, and Africa
- Alisma subcordatum - found in eastern North America
- Alisma triviale - found in North America
See also
In Spanish: Alisma para niños
