Alismatales is an order of flowering plants within the monocotyledon group, known for having a single seed leaf. This order comprises nearly 4,800 species across 166 genera and 14 families, distributed in temperate and tropical regions of the world, excluding Antarctica. Though generally of little economic importance, Alismatales provide critical habitats for fish and stabilize shorelines. They facilitate vegetational succession , converting ponds into biological landfills that can support land plants. Some species, like taro, have nutritional value, while others, such as Sagittaria trifolia , serve as decorative motifs. The family Alismataceae within the order includes common genera like Sagittaria (arrowhead), Alisma (water plantain), and Echinodorus (burhead).

What types of plants are found in the Alismatales order?

The Alismatales order contains nearly 4,800 species and 166 genera of flowering plants (angiosperms) broadly distributed throughout temperate and tropical regions. Some of the families in Alismatales include: * Alismataceae (water plantain family) * Aponogetonaceae * Araceae * Butomaceae * Cymodoceaceae * Hydrocharitaceae * Juncaginaceae * Posidoniaceae * Potamogetonaceae * Ruppiaceae * Scheuchzeriaceae * Tofieldiaceae * Zosteraceae Genera include Alisma (water plantain), Echinodorus (burhead), and Sagittaria (arrowhead).

Where do Alismatales plants usually live?

Alismatales are flowering plants with around 4,800 species and 166 genera, found worldwide in temperate and tropical regions, excluding Antarctica. They thrive in diverse aquatic habitats like marshes, shorelines, and freshwater and marine environments, often submersed or partially exposed. Many Alismatales species play crucial ecological roles, offering habitats for fish and stabilizing shorelines. They can form intricate communities with other aquatic plants, contributing to ecological succession, where ponds gradually transform into biological landfills that support land plants. Some are considered weeds because they can impede irrigation and navigation.

What are some common features of Alismatales plants?

Alismatales, an order of flowering plants within the monocot group, comprises nearly 4,800 species across 14 families. These plants are broadly distributed in temperate and tropical regions, excluding Antarctica. Key characteristics include their method of endosperm development, which is usually helobial, a combination of cellular and nuclear types. Many Alismatales are herbaceous and grow in freshwater and marine habitats, aiding in shoreline stabilization and providing habitats for fish. Some Alismatales, such as those in the Alismataceae family, feature long, thin leafstalks and can reproduce via stolons or rhizomes .

How are Alismatales plants important to their ecosystems?

Alismatales are critical to their ecosystems, especially in aquatic environments, where they form complex communities with other aquatic and emergent stream-bank plants. These plants facilitate vegetational succession, where ponds gradually fill with plant parts and silt, creating biological landfills that can eventually support land plants. Many Alismatales species provide essential habitats for fish and help stabilize shorelines. Though generally not considered economically significant, these herbaceous plants play a vital role in maintaining the ecological balance of their habitats. Some species within the Alismatales order, such as those in the Alismataceae family, are edible, offering a food source within their ecosystems.

What are some well-known examples of Alismatales species and their uses?

The Alismatales order includes nearly 4,800 species across 14 families. While generally not of major economic importance today, some species have notable uses. Sagittaria (arrowhead) has flavorful rhizomes and tubers, with its rhizomes eaten in Asia. Some Indigenous people of North America still make bread from dried and powdered rhizomes of Butomus umbellatus (flowering rush). Limnocharis flava (yellow velvetleaf) is a highly esteemed vegetable in Java, and, along with Sagittaria trifolia (threeleaf arrowhead), is used as fertilizer and fodder in tropical regions. Many Alismatales species, such as arrowhead and flowering rush, are decorative ornamentals in water gardens, formal pools, and aquariums. S. trifolia has appeared as a motif in Japanese religious metalwork.

Alismatales

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Images

Spadix of the cuckoopint (Arum maculatum) with a pale green, hood-like spathe surrounded by broad, green leaves growing from the forest floor.

Fresh taro tubers with stems attached are lined up for sale at a market in Hawaii.

Water clover surrounded by duckweed. The green streaks are duckweed being moved by the wind.

Alismatales

plant order

Also known as: Alismales, water plantain order

Written by

Paul E. Berry

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

History

Top Questions

What is Alismatales?
Alismatales is an order of flowering plants within the monocotyledon group, known for having a single seed leaf. This order comprises nearly 4,800 species across 166 genera and 14 families, distributed in temperate and tropical regions of the world, excluding Antarctica.

Though generally of little economic importance, Alismatales provide critical habitats for fish and stabilize shorelines. They facilitate vegetational succession, converting ponds into biological landfills that can support land plants. Some species, like taro, have nutritional value, while others, such as Sagittaria trifolia, serve as decorative motifs. The family Alismataceae within the order includes common genera like Sagittaria (arrowhead), Alisma (water plantain), and Echinodorus (burhead).
2 Britannica Sources
1. Alismatales
2. Alismataceae
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What types of plants are found in the Alismatales order?
The Alismatales order contains nearly 4,800 species and 166 genera of flowering plants (angiosperms) broadly distributed throughout temperate and tropical regions.

Some of the families in Alismatales include:
* Alismataceae (water plantain family)
* Aponogetonaceae
* Araceae
* Butomaceae
* Cymodoceaceae
* Hydrocharitaceae
* Juncaginaceae
* Posidoniaceae
* Potamogetonaceae
* Ruppiaceae
* Scheuchzeriaceae
* Tofieldiaceae
* Zosteraceae

Genera include Alisma (water plantain), Echinodorus (burhead), and Sagittaria (arrowhead).
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Where do Alismatales plants usually live?
Alismatales are flowering plants with around 4,800 species and 166 genera, found worldwide in temperate and tropical regions, excluding Antarctica. They thrive in diverse aquatic habitats like marshes, shorelines, and freshwater and marine environments, often submersed or partially exposed.

Many Alismatales species play crucial ecological roles, offering habitats for fish and stabilizing shorelines. They can form intricate communities with other aquatic plants, contributing to ecological succession, where ponds gradually transform into biological landfills that support land plants. Some are considered weeds because they can impede irrigation and navigation.
2 Britannica Sources
1. Alismatales
2. Alismataceae
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What are some common features of Alismatales plants?
Alismatales, an order of flowering plants within the monocot group, comprises nearly 4,800 species across 14 families. These plants are broadly distributed in temperate and tropical regions, excluding Antarctica.

Key characteristics include their method of endosperm development, which is usually helobial, a combination of cellular and nuclear types. Many Alismatales are herbaceous and grow in freshwater and marine habitats, aiding in shoreline stabilization and providing habitats for fish. Some Alismatales, such as those in the Alismataceae family, feature long, thin leafstalks and can reproduce via stolons or rhizomes.
2 Britannica Sources
1. Alismatales
2. Alismataceae
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How are Alismatales plants important to their ecosystems?
Alismatales are critical to their ecosystems, especially in aquatic environments, where they form complex communities with other aquatic and emergent stream-bank plants. These plants facilitate vegetational succession, where ponds gradually fill with plant parts and silt, creating biological landfills that can eventually support land plants.

Many Alismatales species provide essential habitats for fish and help stabilize shorelines. Though generally not considered economically significant, these herbaceous plants play a vital role in maintaining the ecological balance of their habitats. Some species within the Alismatales order, such as those in the Alismataceae family, are edible, offering a food source within their ecosystems.
2 Britannica Sources
1. Alismatales
2. Alismataceae
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What are some well-known examples of Alismatales species and their uses?
The Alismatales order includes nearly 4,800 species across 14 families. While generally not of major economic importance today, some species have notable uses.

Sagittaria (arrowhead) has flavorful rhizomes and tubers, with its rhizomes eaten in Asia. Some Indigenous people of North America still make bread from dried and powdered rhizomes of Butomus umbellatus (flowering rush). Limnocharis flava (yellow velvetleaf) is a highly esteemed vegetable in Java, and, along with Sagittaria trifolia (threeleaf arrowhead), is used as fertilizer and fodder in tropical regions.

Many Alismatales species, such as arrowhead and flowering rush, are decorative ornamentals in water gardens, formal pools, and aquariums. S. trifolia has appeared as a motif in Japanese religious metalwork.
4 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Alismatales, arrowhead and pondweed order of nearly 4,800 species and 166 genera of flowering plants, belonging to the monocotyledon (monocot) group, whose species have a single seed leaf. The order contains 14 families that are broadly distributed throughout temperate and tropical regions with representatives on every continent except Antarctica. The group includes a number of ornamentals and houseplants, as well as several flowers that are important in the floral industry. Several aquatic species commonly are used as ornamental aquarium plants.

Some species are aquatic and grow submersed or partially exposed to the air in marshes and other freshwater and marine habitats, where they are often treated as weeds that hinder irrigation and navigation. Although generally of little economic importance, these herbaceous (nonwoody) plants provide important habitats for fish and help stabilize shorelines. In particular, by forming complex communities with other aquatic and emergent stream-bank plants, they bring about vegetational succession: a pond may fill up with plant parts and silt to become a biological landfill, which eventually supports land plants.

Families

Alismataceae
Aponogetonaceae
Araceae.
Butomaceae
Cymodoceaceae
Hydrocharitaceae
Juncaginaceae
Limnocharitaceae
Posidoniaceae
Potamogetonaceae
Ruppiaceae
Scheuchzeriaceae
Tofieldiaceae
Zosteraceae

Families

Alismataceae

BurheadAquatic burhead (*Echinodorus grandiflorus*) in bloom.

The family Alismataceae occurs throughout the Americas, Asia, Australia, Africa, and Europe. Common genera include Sagittaria (arrowhead), Alisma (water plantain), and Echinodorus (burhead). Water plantain and arrowhead are most common in temperate regions, whereas burhead has its centre of distribution in the Neotropics (New World tropics). Limnocharitaceae consist of three genera, Butomopsis of the Paleotropics (Old World tropics) and Limnocharis and Hydrocleys (water poppy) of the Neotropics. Limnocharis has been introduced into the Asian tropics, however. Butomaceae, native to Europe and Asia, consists of one species, Butomus umbellatus (flowering rush). The species has become naturalized in temperate North America.

Araceae

The large family Araceae contains more than 4,000 species in 140 genera. There are eight recognized subfamilies: Aroideae, Gymnostachydoideae, Orontioideae, Lemnoideae, Potheae, Monstereae, Lasioideae, and Zamioculcadoideae. Members of Araceae occur worldwide but are most common in the tropics; the family includes many climbers, as well as rooted or free-floating aquatics. Most members of the family have leaves with a distinct petiole and an expanded blade that is uncharacteristically reticulate among the monocots. The flowers are bisexual or unisexual and are densely packed onto a generally thickened spike (the spadix), and this is in turn accompanied or surrounded by a leafy or fleshy spathe. In the cultivated Anthurium, the spadix consists of bisexual flowers, whereas in the voodoo lily (Amorphophallus konjac), the spadix consists of three parts: a basal section with female flowers, a central portion with male flowers, and a long sterile tip that produces the characteristic odor of rotting flesh upon maturing.

Common genera include Arum (such as cuckoopint [Arum maculatum]), Arisaemia (such as jack-in-the-pulpit [Arisaemia triphyllum]), Colocasia (such as taro [Colocasia esculenta]), and Philodendron (such as heart-leaf philodendron [Philodendron scandens oxycardium]). Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) and the extremely reduced duckweeds (Lemna and its relatives) are specialized aquatic members of the family.

Venus's-flytrap. Venus's-flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) one of the best known of the meat-eating plants. Carnivorous plant, Venus flytrap, Venus fly trap

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Hydrocharitaceae

Hydrocharitaceae, the frog’s-bit family, includes common genera such as Vallisneria (tape grass, or eelgrass), Elodea (waterweed), Ottelia, and Thalassia (turtle grass). Tape grass and waterweed are mostly found in temperate regions, although representatives of each occur in the tropics; tape grass is native to both the Eastern and Western hemispheres, and waterweed is native to the Western Hemisphere. Waterweed and Ottelia originated in the tropics, the former being native to South America and Ottelia having its center of distribution in the Paleotropics. Turtle grass, Halophila, and Enhalus are marine seed plants; they typically occur to depths of 30 meters (about 100 feet) in clear, warm temperate and tropical waters throughout the world. Najas (water nymph), with more than 30 species, is a nearly cosmopolitan genus native to fresh or brackish waters worldwide. Members of the family, such as Egeria, Ottelia, waterweed, and tape grass, are important aquarium plants.

Smaller families

Arrow-grassAquatic arrow-grass (*Triglochin maritima*).

The family Aponogetonaceae consists of one genus, Aponogeton (lattice plant), with 43 species that are native to the fresh waters of the Paleotropics and South Africa. Several species are used as aquarium plants.

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Scheuchzeria palustris, a circumpolar species that is frequently found in quaking bogs in the Northern Hemisphere, is the only species in the family Scheuchzeriaceae.

A closely related family, the Juncaginaceae, is widespread in the Northern and Southern hemispheres, especially in colder climates. The family consists of four genera, the most widespread of which are Triglochin (arrow-grass) and Lilaea. Other than producing hydrogen cyanide, which occasionally poisons livestock, members of this family are of little economic importance.

Potamogetonaceae has seven genera, the most important of which are Groenlandia, with the single species, G. densa, a native of western Europe; Potamogeton (pondweed), a cosmopolitan genus with about 60 species and the most important native plant in freshwater ecosystems, particularly in relation to food for aquatic animals; and the nearly cosmopolitan Zannichellia (horned pondweed). The other genera are native to the Mediterranean region, Australia, and South Africa. A few species are also important aquarium plants.

Ruppiaceae consists of a single genus, Ruppia (ditch grass), which is essentially worldwide in aquatic systems that have a high mineral content, especially of sodium, calcium, or sulfur. R. maritima is a widespread coastal species that tolerates salt water or brackish water.

Surf grassMarine surf grass (*Phyllospadix torreyi*) at low tide.

Three of the five remaining families of the order, Posidoniaceae, Cymodoceaceae, and Zosteraceae, are small families of marine habitats. Posidonia, the only genus of the Posidoniaceae, is native to the Mediterranean and to coastal Australia. The family Cymodoceaceae contains five genera and is native to tropical and subtropical seacoasts around the world. In particular, Halodule and Syringodium are widespread in shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the western Atlantic Ocean. The family Zosteraceae is widely distributed in marine waters around the world. The family is most common in cold temperate waters of the Northern Hemisphere. The genera that make up the family are Zostera (eelgrass), which is nearly worldwide, Phyllospadix (surf grass), which is widely distributed throughout the northern Pacific Ocean, and Heterozostera, which is distributed in the temperate waters off the coasts of Australia and Chile.

The Northern Hemisphere genus Tofieldia was formerly allied to the lilies and is the most prominent member of the family Tofieldiaceae. Although it is not aquatic in habitat, it is similar to the other members of the Alismatales in the possession of free carpels.

Alismatales

Families

Alismataceae

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Araceae

Hydrocharitaceae

Smaller families