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ALISMATACEAE

(Water Plantain family)

These cosmopolitan water or marsh plants comprise about 95 species in 11 genera. They resemble members of the Ranunculaceae, but are otherwise quite unrelated (Mabberley 1987).

Some species, for example the water-plantain (Alisma plantago-aquatica L.), are cultivated for their edible rhizomes; others, for example the arrowhead or swamp potato (Sagittaria sagittifolia L.) are cultivated for their winter buds known as turions, which are edible.

Skin irritancy following contact with members of this family has been noted.

Alisma plantago-aquatica L.

Water Plantain, Gewöhnlicher Froschlöffel, Wasserwegerich, Plantain d'Eau

According to Stillé & Maisch (1884), White (1887), and Remington et al. (1918), the leaves are rubefacient, and will sometimes even blister. However, in an investigation carried out by Coulter (1911), not one of 22 subjects treated with the leaves taken from plants on different dates showed any signs of skin irritation.

Sagittaria sagittifolia L.

Arrowhead, Giant Sagittaria, Hawaii Arrowhead, Pfeilkraut, Flèche d'Eau

Sagittaria turions have caused dermatitis in those who handle them (Behl et al. 1966).

[Further information available but not yet included in database]

References

• Behl PN, Captain RM, Bedi BMS, Gupta S (1966) Skin-Irritant and Sensitizing Plants Found in India. New Delhi: PN Behl
• Coulter S (1904) The poisonous plants of Indiana. Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science: 51-63
• Mabberley DJ (1987) The Plant-Book. A portable dictionary of the higher plants. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Remington JP, Wood HC, Sadtler SP, LaWall CH, Kraemer H, Anderson JF (Eds) (1918) The Dispensatory of the United States of America. 20th edn. Philadelphia: JB Lippincott [WorldCat] [url] [url-2]
• Stillé A, Maisch JM (1884) The National Dispensatory : containing Natural History, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Actions, and Uses of Medicines including those recognized in the Pharmacopœias of the United States, Great Britain and Germany, with Numerous References to the French Codex, 3rd edn. London: J & A Churchill
• White JC (1887) Dermatitis Venenata: An Account of the Action of External Irritants upon the Skin. Boston: Cupples and Hurd

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