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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. There are 14
families, 166 genera and 4490 species in the order worldwide, of which 10
families, 25 genera and 57 species are indigenous to southern Africa. In
addition, 3 genera and 3 species are naturalised, and 21 genera and 47 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 four species
indigenous 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)
There is only one genus, Aponogeton, in this
family. There are 43 species, occurring in tropical to temperate regions of
Asia, Africa, Madagascar and Australia. Six species occur in Southern
Africa. Plants grow in freshwater with leaves floating on the
surface. |
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Araceae
(Arum lily family)
There are 106 genera and about 4025 species (tropics and
subtropics plus some species in temperate regions; especially diverse in New
World tropics), with nine genera and 21 species indigenous to southern Africa.
In addition one genus and one species is naturalised, and 18 genera and 44
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. There are five genera
and 16 species (tropical seas, with two genera and two species in off
southern Africa (seas along the eastern coast). |
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Hydrocharitaceae
Freshwater or marine herbs. There are 18 genera and about
116 species (cosmopolitan), of which four genera and 11 species are indigenous to southern
Africa and one genus with one species is naturalised.
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Juncaginaceae
Marsh-inhabiting plants. There are four genera and 15
species (cosmopolitan), with one genus, Triglochin, and two species
indigenous 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,
indigenous to southern Africa (Okavango delta, Botswana). In addition,
the Water poppy Hydrocleys nymphoides 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 indigenous in southern Africa, represented by seven
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 indigenous in 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, of
which one species, Zostera capensis, occurs in southern Africa.
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Families not encountered
in southern Africa
Butomaceae, Posidoniaceae, Scheuchzeriaceae, Tofieldiaceae |