Narrowleaf Water Plantain

Description

Alisma gramineum is a small aquatic plant in the water-plantain family.It has several common names including narrowleaf water-plantain,ribbonleaf water-plantain or ribbon-leaved water-plantain,and grass-leaved water-plantain.It grows in mud or submerged in shallow fresh or brackish water in marshy areas.The leaves and tiny purple-tinted white flowers may be submersed or not.When the flowers grow underwater they are cleistogamous,meaning they stay closed and self-pollinate.When the flowers grow above water they open.The leaves above the surface are stiff and wide,but submerged leaves are ribbon-like.The fruit is a ring of dry nutlets.Reproduction is by seed or from division of the corm.