About Water plantain (Alisma plantago-aquatica)
The Water-plantain plant, also known as Mad-dog weed, has small, white flowers and heart-shaped leaves with pointed tips. It has a fibrous root and several long-stemmed leaves with a triangular shaped stem. The leaves are clustered at the base of the plant. The plant produces many small white or pale purple flowers with round or slightly jagged petals. The flowers sit atop three green sepals and have six stamens per flower.
Where to Find Water plantain
Look for this plant in freshwater and in wet, muddy, full sun areas in temperate and tropical zones
Edible Parts of Water plantain
The rootstocks are a reliable source of starch. Boil or soak them in water to remove the bitter taste.
Note: To avoid parasites, always cook aquatic plants.
Other Uses for Water plantain
Chinese have used the plant as a treatment for diarrhea, dizziness, painful urination, and back pain.
Water plantain picture gallery
Image Credits
In-Article Image Credits
Plantain Alisma plantago-aquatica via Wikimedia Commons with usage type - Creative Commons License. August 2, 2012Plantain Illustration Alisma aquatica via Wikimedia Commons by Prof. Dr. Otto Wilhelm Thomé Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz with usage type - Public Domain. 1885
Plantain Alisma plantago-aquatica via Wikimedia Commons by Carl Axel Magnus Lindman with usage type - Public Domain. 1917-1926
Habitus of Common Water-plantain, Alisma plantago-aquatica via Wikimedia Commons by Christian Fischer with usage type - Creative Commons License. August 7, 2010
Water Plantain Alisma plantago-aquatica via Wikimedia Commons by Rasbak with usage type - GNU Free
The flowering plant of Alisma plantago-aquatica Water Plantain via Wikimedia Commons with usage type - GNU Free. August 12, 2009
Water Plantain Alisma plantago-aquatica; leaves via Wikimedia Commons by Christian Fischer with usage type - GNU Free. June 2005
Habitus of flowering Common Water-plantain, Alisma plantago-aquatica via Wikimedia Commons by Christian Fischer with usage type - Creative Commons License. August 7, 2011
The inflorescence of Alisma plantago-aquatica Water Plantain via Wikimedia Commons with usage type - Creative Commons License. August 12, 2009
Water Plantain Alisma plantago-aquatica via Wikimedia Commons by Stefan Lefnaer with usage type - Creative Commons License. August 12, 2015
Alisma plantago-aquatica, Alismataceae, Common Water-plantain, Mad-dog Weed, flower via Wikimedia Commons by H Zell with usage type - GNU Free. July 29, 2009
Flower of water plant Alisma plantago-aquatica via Wikimedia Commons with usage type - GNU Free. August 2, 2012
European Water Plantain. Family Alismataceae seeds via Wikimedia Commons by Steve Hurst USDA NRCS Plants Database with usage type - Public Domain
Alisma plantago-aquatica water plantain seed nuggets via Wikimedia Commons by Stefan Lefnaer with usage type - Creative Commons License. August 12, 2015
Featured Image Credit
The flowering plant of Alisma plantago-aquatica Water Plantain via Wikimedia Commons with usage type - GNU Free. August 12, 2009
