Alisma parviflora

Alisma parviflora, also known as Water Plantain, is a large plant with small white flowers. It is best suited for larger pond installations and can be used in water treatment systems. The submerged leaves are ribbon-like, while the emergent leaves are round and a beautiful bright green. Between June and August, clusters of delicate white-pinkish flowers appear on tall stems.

Alisma parviflora belongs to the family Alismataceae and is native to the Northern Hemisphere. It is a perennial pond plant that forms a large rosette with upright emergent vegetation. It can reach a height of 40 to 70 cm, with a spread of 45 cm (18in). It grows from a bulbous base and has deciduous foliage. The thick, heart-shaped leaves are heavily veined and have a plicate appearance, with a dark green colour. It flowers in summer, with inflorescences supported by highly branched floral stems that persist even when dry. The flowers, with three petals that turn whitish-green or sometimes pinkish, resemble those of gypsophila. The fruits are achenes, with each segment containing a seed, and they float on water.

Water Plantains have the advantage of tolerating most wet conditions, from banks to a depth of 50 cm. They thrive in acidic soils. Alismas have many qualities: their natural appearance, the long-lasting presence of their aerial panicles, and their hardiness make them suitable for various purposes, whether for aesthetic or ecological reasons, in a half-barrel filled with water or in a large body of water. Alisma parviflora is particularly remarkable for its mouse-ear-shaped leaves. When planted with water lilies, it emerges among their leaves like an exotic shoot. The thickness of the leaves gives them an interesting texture, making them suitable for pairing with water arums or water cinquefoils.

The Iroquois make a tea from the leaves that stimulates runners. They also use other parts of the plant for various therapeutic purposes.