Mad-dog weed

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing in the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. Furthermore, its presence is well-documented throughout the landscapes of Finland. The species is also widely distributed across the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, its range extends northward into the territories of Norway.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Alisma plantago-aquatica is characterized by its preference for highly saturated and aquatic environments, commonly colonizing habitats such as canals, lakes, rivers, and swamps. This species demonstrates a broad altitudinal adaptability, capable of thriving across a significant vertical gradient. Its elevational range extends from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum altitude of 2500 m AMSL, with a mean elevational range centered at 2500 m AMSL. This wide distribution allows the plant to inhabit diverse hydrological landscapes ranging from low-lying wetlands to high-altitude aquatic systems.

Elevational range max:

2500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

canals, lakes, rivers, swamps

Life history

The life history of Alisma plantago-aquatica is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist across multiple growing seasons through its robust underground structures. It functions primarily as a helophyte, an emergent plant that thrives in wetland environments with its roots submerged in water or mud while its foliage extends above the surface. In terms of its survival strategy, the species is classified as a cryptophyte, relying on protected underground organs to endure unfavorable environmental conditions. Additionally, the plant exhibits deciduousness, shedding its foliage during dormant periods to conserve energy and resources.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

helophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Alisma plantago-aquatica is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. This species exhibits a versatile ecological habit, functioning as an aquatic, semiaquatic, or terrestrial plant, while remaining a terrestrial epiphyte in its general classification. It is an independent organism, not functioning as a parasite, and possesses a self-supporting structure rather than acting as a climber, liana, or vine. In terms of stature, the plant displays significant variability in height, with a minimum recorded height of 0.3 m, a maximum of 1.7 m, and an average plant height of approximately 0.61 m.

Aquatic :

aquatic

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.7 m

Plant height mean:

0.611666666666667 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Alisma plantago-aquatica is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a standard carbon fixation process typical of many aquatic and wetland species. The plant exhibits significant morphological variability in its foliage, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 80 cm, while maintaining a mean leaf length of 7 cm. The leaf width also shows a broad spectrum, spanning from a minimum of 1.3 cm to a maximum of 25 cm, with a mean width of 4.1 cm. These dimensions contribute to a mean leaf size of approximately 119.79417 cm². Furthermore, the plant possesses a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 297.25 cm²/g, which reflects its leaf mass per area and its adaptation to its environmental niche. Notably, the species is non-carnivorous, relying entirely on autotrophic nutrient acquisition through its photosynthetic processes.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

80 cm

Leaf length mean:

7 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf size mean:

119.79417 cm²

Leaf width max:

25 cm

Leaf width mean:

4.1 cm

Leaf width min:

1.3 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

297.25 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Alisma plantago-aquatica is characterized by a biotic pollination strategy, primarily utilizing insects such as flies to facilitate fertilization, as self-fertilization is noted to be absent. The flowering period typically begins in June and extends through August, featuring inflorescences that range in length from a minimum of 0.15 m to a maximum of 0.7 m. Following pollination, the plant produces indehiscent fruits classified as achenes. These fruits are quite small, with a mean length of approximately 0.21 cm (ranging from 0.15 to 0.25 cm) and a mean width of 0.13 cm (ranging from 0.1 to 0.15 cm). The seeds contained within are uniform in length at 2.5 mm, with a mean mass of approximately 0.000367 g, reaching a maximum of 0.000644 g and a minimum of 0.00027 g. Dispersal is achieved through a hydrochorous syndrome, meaning the seeds are spread by water, and the plant does not exhibit asexual reproduction.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit length max:

0.25 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.208333333333333 cm

Fruit length min:

0.15 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Fruit width max:

0.15 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.13 cm

Fruit width min:

0.1 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.7 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.15 m

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

fly

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed length mean:

2.5 mm

Seed mass max:

0.000644 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0003669465 g

Seed mass min:

0.00027 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Alisma plantago-aquatica has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include rhizome.

Rhizome

1. Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry

Chemicals

Alisma plantago-aquatica has 49 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ARSENIC, Acetylvaline, Alismol, Alismoxide, Alisol A.

ARSENIC

1. Dr. Duke

Acetylvaline

1. Dr. Duke

Alismol

1. Dr. Duke

Alismoxide

1. Dr. Duke

Alisol A

1. Dr. Duke

Alisol A monoacetate

1. Dr. Duke

Alisol B

1. Dr. Duke

Alisol B monoacetate

1. Dr. Duke

Alisol C

1. Dr. Duke

Alisol C monoacetate

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Alisma plantago-aquatica has 405 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, 5-HT-Inhibitor, ACE-Inhibitor, Aggregant, Aldehyde-Oxidase-Inhibitor.

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-HT-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aggregant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldehyde-Oxidase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Alisma plantago-aquatica has 7 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include diarrhea, bacterial infection, dizziness, edema, hyperlipidemia.

Diarrhea

1. Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry
2. Nutrients

Bacterial infection

1. Nutrients

Dizziness

1. Nutrients

Edema

1. Nutrients

Hyperlipidemia

1. Nutrients

Oliguria

1. Nutrients

Tumor

1. Nutrients

Preparations

Alisma plantago-aquatica has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Aliismatis Rhizoma.

Aliismatis rhizoma

1. Frontiers in plant science