Flora

Alisma plantago-aquatica L.

Family: Alismataceae

Flowering Time: Jun-Aug

IUCN Status:

LC – Least Concern

General Appearance

It is a perennial or helophyte, aquatic herb. Peduncle (2–)6–10 cm high.

Leaves

Inflorescence of about 6 whorls of branches and flowers; bracts membranous, lanceolate, those of the lowest whorl 1–2 × 0.5 cm., with several smaller bracteoles.

Flowers

Pedicels up to 2 cm. long. Sepals ovate, 2 mm. long. Stamens 2 mm. long; anthers 0.75 mm. long, narrow; filaments attached above the base. Petals 4 mm. long, white, delicate.

Fruits

Achenes broadly ovate, with 2 or 3 ridges on the dorsal surface, pale brown to yellowish. Carpels ovate, compressed, less than 1 mm. long; style about 1 mm. long, erect or slightly curved.

Life Form

Phytochoria

Cosm, the native range of this species is Temp. Eurasia, N. Africa to Tanzania.

Distribution in Libya

Jabal Nafusa: Reported from Gharian by Pampanini & Mair
Al-Jabal Al-Akhder: Reported from Al-Baida by Keith

Notes

Wild in Libya, medicinal plant.

For more information

Bibliographic References

First: Encyclopedia Flora of Libyan:

Jafri, S. M. H. & El-Gadi, A. (1980) Flora of Libya, Alismataceae Vol. (85) Department of Botany, Al-Faateh Univ., Tripoli, Libya.