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Order: Alismatales
Life
> eukaryotes >
Archaeoplastida >
Chloroplastida
>
Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants)
> Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants)
> Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering
plants)
> Monocotyledons
With the exception of the Araceae (arum lily
family), all families of the Alismatales that occur in southern Africa, are
either aquatic or marsh-inhabiting plants. Members of the Araceae are often
found in marshy situations and some member are aquatic (those previously in the
family Lemnaceae) but many species can be found far from water. Ten of the 14
families are encountered in southern Africa. Of the 166 genera and 4490 species worldwide, 25 genera and
76 species are native to southern Africa, four genera and four species are
naturalised, and an additional 21 general and 43 species are cultivated in the
region.
Families encountered in southern Africa
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Alismataceae
About 12 genera and 81 species (mainly northern
hemisphere in tropics and subtropics), with four genera and six species native to southern Africa . In addition, there is one genus and species
naturalised, and two genera and two species cultivated in southern Africa. Aquatic or marsh herbs. |
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Aponogetonaceae
(Wateruintjie family)
One genus, Aponogeton
with 43 species, occurring in tropical to temperate regions of
Asia, Africa, Madagascar and Australia. Eleven species are native to southern
Africa. Plants grow in freshwater with leaves floating on the
surface. |
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Araceae
(Arum lily family)
About 106 genera and about 4025 species, native mainly to
the tropics and
subtropics, but also with some species in temperate regions; especially diverse in New
World tropics. Nine genera and 31 species are native to southern Africa, one genus and one species is naturalised, and
a further 18 genera and 40
species are cultivated in the region. The Lemnaceae
has been synonymised with the Araceae and previous members of this family are
included here. They are all aquatic plants with small floating leaves and tiny
flowers. |
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Cymodoceaceae
Submerged, perennial marine plants. Five genera
and 16 species (tropical seas), with two genera and two species off the coast
of northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and Mozambique. |
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Hydrocharitaceae
Freshwater or marine herbs. Eighteen genera and about
116 species (cosmopolitan), with four genera and 11 species native to southern
Africa and two genera and two species naturalised in the region.
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Juncaginaceae
Marsh-inhabiting plants. Four genera and 15
species (cosmopolitan), with one genus, Triglochin, and two species native to southern Africa. |
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Limnocharitaceae
Aquatic plants, either rooted or free-floating. Three
genera and 11 species worldwide, with one species, Butomopsis latifolia,
native to southern Africa (Okavango delta, Botswana). In addition, Hydrocleys nymphoides
(Water poppy) is cultivated in southern
Africa. |
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Potamogetonaceae
(pondweed family)
Floating, aquatic plants.
Four genera and about 102 species worldwide, of which one genus,
Potamogeton, is native to southern Africa, represented by
nine
species. |
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Ruppiaceae
Aquatic, grass-like, herbs that grow in saline or fresh
water. Ruppia is the only genus in the family, and contains about
seven species of which two are native to southern Africa. |
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Zosteraceae
(eel grass family)
Marine perennial plants
that form large beds along coastal areas, mainly in temperate regions and
typically occurring in estuaries. There are two genera and 14 species, with
one species, Zostera capensis, native to southern Africa.
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Families not encountered
in southern Africa
Butomaceae, Posidoniaceae, Scheuchzeriaceae, Tofieldiaceae |
