Alisma gramineum Lej.
narrow-leaved water-plantain (narrowleaf water plantain)
Alismataceae (Water-plantain family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Jamie Fenneman     (Photo ID #19661)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Alisma gramineum
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend

Species Information

General:
Perennial aquatic herb from a corm-like stem-base and a fibrous root; stems 5-50 cm tall.
Leaves:
All basal, linear, essentially bladeless to long-stalked with narrowly lanceolate blades, from submerged or floating to completely emergent, 3-40 cm long, 0.8-2 cm wide.
Flowers:
Inflorescence an open, bracteate panicle of long-stalked flowers; petals pink or white, slightly longer than the sepals; sepals mostly purple-margined, 2.5-3.5 mm long.
Fruits:
Achenes, 5-20, oblong, about 2 mm wide.
Notes:
The taxonomy of this species is extremely complex. At present we are recognizing a single taxon. For a discussion of the nomenclatural problems in this species see Reveal (1977).

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

USDA Species Characteristics

Flower Colour:
White
Blooming Period:
Mid Summer
Fruit/Seed characteristics:
Colour: Brown
Present over the Summer
Source:  The USDA

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Alisma gramineum

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
Value / Class

Avg

Min

Max

Elevation (metres)
1174 1174 1174
Slope Gradient (%)
0 0 0

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

0
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
7 7 7
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
D
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
1
Modal BEC Zone Class
IDF

All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in

IDF(1)

Habitat and Range

Lakeshores, rivers, marshes and tidal flats in the lowland, steppe and montane zones; infrequent in S BC; circumpolar, E to S PQ and S to NY, NM, AZ and N CA; Eurasia.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Alisma geyeri Torr.
Alisma gramineum var. angustissimum (DC.) A.J. Hendricks
Alisma gramineum var. geyeri (Torr.) Lam.
Alisma gramineum var. gramineum
Alisma gramineum var. graminifolium (Wahlenb.) Hendricks
Alisma gramineum var. wahlenbergii auct. non (Holmb.) Raymond & Kucyniak [misapplied]