| Classification |
| Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Liliopsida
Order Type: Basal Angiosperms-Monocots
Order: Alismatales
Family: Butomaceae
Family Common Name: Flowering-Rush Family
Genera: Hydrocleys |
Defining Features: The family
has some characters similar to the aquatic dicot family of Nymphaceae.
Defining Morphology: Floral
Features: Flowers are bisexual and actinomorphic. Inflorescence is an umbelliform
cyme. Perianth is differentiated to sepals and petals. Ovaries are superior.
Fruit and Seed Features: Monocotyledon. Fruit a follicle. Vegetative Features:
Habitat as aquatic or semi-aquatic monopodial herbs. Leaves are simple,
alternate and basal. Stipulate is present.
Distribution: Temperate Europe
to temperate western Asia. Naturalized in North American wetlands, especially
along the St. Lawrence River.
Economic Use: The rhizomes
are used for food in some regions of Russia, otherwise sometimes cultivated
as an aquatic ornamental.
Number of Genera Globally:
2
Number of Species Globally: 5
