Alisima subcordatum Water Plantain

General

An obligate wetland plant with almost heart-shaped leaves and tiny white flowers. Water plantain is a food source for waterfowl, beavers, and muskrats. Historically, it has been used by different Native American groups for minor injuries and indigestion.

Plant Description

Usually growing under 2 feet. Found most commonly on wet soils and shallow water. Small white flowers with three petals and sepals each. Ovate or heart shaped leaves. Smooth, light green foliage. While the plant can grow in shallow water, the leaves will not grow under water.

Height (ft)
0.5-2

Soil moisture
High

Soil types
Fine to medium textures, muddy soils

Wetland indicator
OBL

Shade tolerance
Intolerant, Full sun

Bloom color
White

Bloom period
Summer

Drought tolerance
None

Salinity tolerance
None

 

Distribution

Eastern United States, from Maine to Minnesota in the north and North Carolina to Oklahoma in the south.

Additional information

Brown, Lauren. Grasses: An Identification Guide. Houghton Mifflin Company, New York City, 1979. LINK

Fassett, Norman C. A Manual of Aquatic Plants, First Edition. McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., New York and London, 1940. LINK

Garbisch, Edgar W., and McIninch, Suzanne M. Propagation of Wetland Plants: Herbaceous Plants, Shrubs and Trees. Environmental Concern, Inc. 2003. LINK

Harris, James G., and Harris, Melinda Woolf. Plant Identification Terminology: An Illustrated Glossary, Second Edition. Spring Lake Publishing, Spring Lake, Utah. 2011. LINK

Hitchcock, A.S., and Chase, Agnes. Manual of the Grasses of the United States, Second Edition, Volume I. Dover Publications, Inc., New York, 1971. LINK

Kartesz, J.T., The Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2015. North American Plant Atlas. (http://bonap.net/napa). Chapel Hill, N.C. [maps generated from Kartesz, J.T. 2015. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP). (in press) LINK

McKenny, Margaret and Peterson, Roger Tory. A Field Guide to Wildflowers of Northeastern and North-central North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1968. LINK

Newcomb, Lawrence. Newcomb's Wildflower Guide. Laurence Newcomb, Mexico. 1977. LINK

USDA, NRCS. 2021. PLANTS Database (https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/, 08/20/2021). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA. LINK