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Order: Alismatales
Life
> eukaryotes >
Archaeoplastida >
Chloroplastida
>
Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants)
> Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants)
> Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering
plants)
> Monocotyledons
With the exception of the Araceae (arum lily
family), all families of the Alismatales that occur in southern Africa, are
either aquatic or marsh-inhabiting plants. Members of the Araceae are often
found in marshy situations and some member are aquatic (those previously in the
family Lemnaceae) but many species can be found far from water. Nine of the 13
families are encountered in southern Africa. Of the 166 genera and 4560 species worldwide,
30 genera and
83 species are native to southern Africa, six genera and six species are
naturalised, and an additional 19 genera and 43 species are cultivated in the
region.
Families encountered in southern Africa
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Alismataceae
[= Limnocharitaceae]
About 12 genera and 81 species (mainly northern
hemisphere in tropics and subtropics), with five genera and seven species native to southern Africa . In addition, there is one genus and species naturalised, and three genera and
four species cultivated in southern Africa. Aquatic or marsh herbs. |
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Aponogetonaceae
(Wateruintjie family)
One genus, Aponogeton
with 43 species, native to tropical to temperate regions of
Asia, Africa, Madagascar and Australia. Eleven species are native to southern
Africa. |
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Araceae
(Arum lily family)
About 106 genera and about 4025 species, native mainly to the tropics and
subtropics, but also with some species in temperate regions; especially diverse in New
World tropics. Ten genera and 33 species are native to southern Africa, two
genera and two species is naturalised, and
a further 16 genera and 39
species are cultivated in the region. The Lemnaceae
has been synonymised with the Araceae and previous members of this family are
included here. They are all aquatic plants with small floating leaves and tiny
flowers. |
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Cymodoceaceae
Submerged, perennial marine plants. Five genera
and 16 species (tropical seas), with four genera and five species off the coast
of northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and Mozambique. |
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Hydrocharitaceae
Freshwater or marine herbs. Eighteen genera and about
116 species (cosmopolitan), with six genera and 13 species native to southern
Africa and three genera and three species naturalised in the region.
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Juncaginaceae
Marsh-inhabiting plants. Four genera and 15
species (cosmopolitan), with one genus,
Triglochin, and three species native to southern Africa. |
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Potamogetonaceae
(pondweed family)
Floating, aquatic plants. Four genera and about 102
species worldwide, of which one genus,
Potamogeton, is native
to southern Africa, represented by nine species. |
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Ruppiaceae
Aquatic, grass-like, herbs that grow in saline or fresh
water. Ruppia is the only genus in the family, and contains about
seven species of which two are native to southern Africa. |
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Zosteraceae
(eel grass family)
Marine perennial plants
that form large beds along coastal areas, mainly in temperate regions and
typically occurring in estuaries. There are two genera and 14 species, with
one species, Zostera capensis, native to southern Africa.
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Families not encountered
in southern Africa
Butomaceae, Posidoniaceae, Scheuchzeriaceae, Tofieldiaceae |
