Alisma plantago-aquatica
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| Alisma plantago-aquatica | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Monocots |
| Order: | Alismatales |
| Family: | Alismataceae |
| Genus: | Alisma |
| Species: | A. plantago-aquatica |
| Binomial name | |
| Alisma plantago-aquatica L. |
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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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[edit] Description
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]
[edit] Similar species
Narrow leaved water plantain Alisma lanceolatum differs only in that the leaf tips are acuminate and shape is narrow lanceolate.
[edit] Traditional uses
Chinese medicinal herb used for edema, diarrhea, strangury, vaginal discharge, dizziness, painful urination, seminal emission, nightsweating, lumbar pain.[2][unreliable source?]
The roots have formerly been used to cure hydrophobia,[citation needed] and have a reputation in America of curing rattlesnake bites.[citation needed] However this is not proven.[citation needed]
[edit] Research
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This section may contain original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding references. Statements consisting only of original research may be removed. More details may be available on the talk page. (September 2011) |
Possible anti-diabetic herb[3]
Possible hepoprotective properties.[4]
[edit] Chemistry
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.[clarification needed]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
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- ^ Rose, Francis (2006). The Wild Flower Key. Frederick Warne & Co. pp. 483–484. ISBN 978-0-7232-5175-0.
- ^ http://www.chineseherbacademy.org/databases/hb-db/alism.html
- ^ Rau O., Wurglics M., Dingermann Th., Abdel-Tawab M., Schubert-Zsilavecz M, "Screening of herbal extracts for activation of the human peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor." Pharmazie 2006 61:11 (952-956)
- ^ Jeong C.S., Suh I.O., Hyun J.E., Lee E.B. "Screening of hepatoprotective activity of medicinal plant extracts on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats", Natural Product Sciences 2003 9:2 (87-90)
- ^ http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTOTAL-YBQJ201010029.htm
