Alisma plantago-aquatica L., common water-plantain, is a short water perennial a part of the Arrowhead Family. This aquatic plant has a stem that grows upright to about 1 to 3 feet tall when it flowers.
The leaves are oval and glossy on thick, long petioles at the base of the plant. The leaves are also well rounded that point at the tip and have smooth margins. Its panicles has many branches that sprout three parted flowers with a pink to white coloring and are incredibly tiny. These panicles rise to be much taller than the leaves at the base of the plant.
In the months between June to September, it bares flat fruit that curves to the back.
You can find water-plaintains in muddy soil, shallow water banks, marshes, edges of ponds, roadsides, and ditches. Throughout Colorado to Arizona, west to California, eastern North America, South America, Eurasia, east Africa, and Australia.
A tea made from the whole plant can be used for ailments of a female nature. A liquid extract of the roots can be used as a nasal catarrh compress. A dry leaf tea is used for easing the burning sensation of urination.
The Alisma species contains cholesterol-lowering and diuretic triterpenes.