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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

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.

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. 

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. 

Zantedeschia aethiopica

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.  

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. 

Egeria densa

Juncaginaceae

Marsh-inhabiting plants. Four genera and 15 species (cosmopolitan), with one genus, Triglochin, and two species native to southern Africa.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Families not encountered in southern Africa

Butomaceae, Posidoniaceae, Scheuchzeriaceae, Tofieldiaceae

 

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