See text The water-plantains (Alismataceae) are a family of flowering plants, comprising 20 genera (17 extant and 3 fossil) and 119 species.

The family has a cosmopolitan distribution, with the greatest number of species in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.

The ovary is superior, comprising 3 - numerous free carpels in one whorl or in a clustered head.

Altogether, there are 17 extant genera and two fossil genera assigned to the Alismataceae:[3][4][5] Sagittaria Limnophyton Astonia Wiesneria Helanthium Caldesia Echinodorus Albidella Ranalisma Hydrocleys Butomopsis Limnocharis Alisma Baldellia Damasonium Luronium Burnatia Several species, notably in the genus Sagittaria, have edible rhizomes, grown for both human food and animal fodder in southern and eastern Asia.

The leaves and flower buds of Limnocharis flava are eaten in Southeast Asia as "poor people's vegetable".