| Alisma plantago-aquatica | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Monocots |
| Order: | Alismatales |
| Family: | Alismataceae |
| Genus: | Alisma |
| Species: | A. plantago-aquatica |
| Binomial name | |
| Alisma plantago-aquatica L. |
|
The Common Water-plantain (Alisma plantago-aquatica), also known as Mad-dog weed, is a perennial flowering plant native to most of the Northern Hemisphere, in Europe, northern Asia, and North America. It is found on mud or in fresh waters.
The word alisma is said to be a word of Celtic origin meaning "water", a reference to the habitat in which it grows. Early botanists named it after the Plantago because of the similarity of their leaves.
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It is a hairless plant that grows in shallow water, consists of a fibrous root, several basal long stemmed leaves 15–30 cm long, and a triangular stem up to 1 m tall.
It has branched inflorescence bearing numerous small flowers, 1 cm across, with three round or slightly jagged, white or pale purple, petals. The flowers open in the afternoon. There are 3 blunt green sepals, and 6 stamens per flower. The carpels often exist as a flat single whorle. It flowers from June until August.
The word alisma is said to be a word of Celtic origin meaning "water", a reference to the habitat in which it grows. Early botanists named it after the Plantago because of the similarity of their leaves.[1]
Narrow leaved water plantain Alisma lanceolatum differs only in that the leaf tips are acuminate and shape is narrow lanceolate.
Chinese medicinal herb used for edema, diarrhea, strangury, vaginal discharge, dizziness, painful urination, seminal emission, nightsweating, lumbar pain.[2]
The roots have formerly been used to cure hydrophobia, and have a reputation in America of curing rattlesnake bites. However this is not proven.
Possible anti-diabetic herb[3]
Possible hepoprotective properties.[4]
Chemical constituents of Alisma plantago-aquatica include alisol A 24-acetate and alisol B 23-acetate.[5] The content of these two compounds are significantly different in Rhizoma Alismatis of different areas.