Species Detail Forb

Flower stalk		Yavapai County Native & Naturalized Plants Alisma subcordatum - American water plantain Synonyms: Alisma plantago-aquatica ssp. subcordatum , Alisma plantago-aquatica L. var. parviflorum Plant Form: Forb or Subshrub Family: Alismataceae
Flower stalk


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Leaves Robert H. Mohlenbrock @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA NRCS	Plant - basal leaves Paul Rothrock @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: CC BY-NC (Attribution-Non-Commercial)	Leaves and flowers Natural History Institute Herbarium (NHI), Usage Rights: Public-domain (CC0 1.0)

Forb Plant Description

Origin: Native Life Cycle: Perennial
General Desc: Aquatic perennial found in shallow water with erect or floating leaves that are oval or elliptic and sharply pointed at the leaf apex (acute). Any leaves that form underwater are weak and quick to rot; they rarely remain on adult plants.
Identification notes: Fibrous rooted, perennial forb that grows in shallow water; white flowers are borne in whorls on many branched flower stalks; style shorter than or (equal to) ovary, anthers rounded; oval leaf blades held above the water or float on it.
Height: To 2 feet

Habitat

Habitat Description: Shallow ponds, stream margins, marshes, and ditches.
Plant Communities: Riparian
Elevation: 100 - 4900 feet

Flower Characteristics

Color: White Shape: Regular in elongated clusters Tubular: N Flowering Period: Jul - Sep
Description: Bisexual, with 1/16 to 1/8 inch long sepals; 3 white petals are 1/16 to 1/8 inch long with a long pointed tip and slightly unevenly cut margins. Flowers are in a loosely branched (panicle) stalk.

Leaf and Stem Characteristics

Leaf Color: Green Leaf Type: Simple Leaf Shape: Round or oval Leaf Margin: Smooth Leaf Attachment: Alternate and opposite Leaves Clasp: U
Hairs: No Spines: N
Leaf Description: Leaves rise above the surface (rarely floating), to 7 inches long and 4-3/4 inches wide, egg-shaped to elliptic; stems triangular-shaped.

Fruit and Seed Characteristics

Fruit Type: Achene
Fruit Notes: Cluster of achenes (small 1-seeded dry fruit that does not split open) 1/16 to 1/4 inch in diameter. Each achene has an ascending prolonged tip, is about 1/16 inch long, and has a rounded outer edge with a single groove.


	Arizona Cooperative Extension Yavapai County 840 Rodeo Dr #C Prescott, AZ 86305 (928) 445-6590	Version 8.0 http://cales.arizona.edu/yavapaiplants/SpeciesDetailForb.php Last Updated: Dec 13, 2022 Content Questions/Comments: Email Matt Halldorson Legal Disclaimer