Lanceolate Water Plantain

 

Scientific Name: Alisma lanceolatum With. 

Family: Alismataceae

 

MORPHOLOGY

 

Growth habit and size: Emergent, glabrous perennial herb with a short rhizome.

 

Stem: Erect, branched stem bearing only flowers.

 

Leaves: All leaves are basal, widely linear-lanceolate, 6-7.5 cm long, 1-1.4 cm wide, slightly glaucous, tapering to a wedge in a petiole that is as long or much longer, and acute.

 

Flowers: The panicle has (3-) 4-6 ascending branches and pedicels per verticil, 30-40 cm long. The flowers are purplish pink, approximately 1.2 cm in diameter. The pedicels are slender, 1.5-1.8 (-2.2) cm long and the bracts are triangular-ovate, 5-10 mm long and acuminate. The sepals are triangular-ovate, about 3 mm long, about 2 mm wide, with membranous acute margins and the petals are membranous, oblong, 5-6 mm long, 2-2.5 mm wide, and acute. Blooms from April to July.

 

Fruits and seeds: Obovate achenes, about 2-2.5 mm long, light brown, with 1 or 2 grooves on the back. Oblong seeds, about 1.5 mm long, reddish-brown.

 

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT

 

Widespread throughout Italy except for Val d’Aosta and Calabria, from sea level up to 1,000 m. This aquatic plant typically has emergent leaves and flowers.

 

Photo: Under free license by Saxifraga and Ed Stikvoort, Rutger Barendse.