Broadleaf Arrowhead Sagittaria latifolia

Other Names: Wapato, Floating Arrowhead

Description

Leaf: The leaf blades are mostly arrowhead-shaped and are up to 25 cm long and nearly as wide. The basal lobes spread widely. The petioles are up to 60 cm long. Submerged leaves may be completely bladeless.

  Flower:  The flower scapes are 20-50 cm long and topped by 2-8 whorls of flowers. The bracts of the inflorescence are blunt or rounded and 5-10 mm long. The flowers consist of 3 orbicular, white petals which measure 10-20 mm long. The stamens usually number more than 20. Plants either have one sex of flower per plant or flowers of both sexes on a plant.

 Discussion:  Broadleaf arrowhead is sometimes known as wapato, or occasionally as floating arrowhead. It is an attractive aquatic plant, especially the arrowhead-shaped leaves. Plants are perennial and are up to 90 cm high, with several to many very long petiolate leaves arising from a fleshy rootstock or tuber.

  Distinguishing Characteristics:  The Arrow Arum differs slightly in appearance from the Broadleaf Arrowhead most prominently in the flower.  Arrow Arum has a a thin yellow spadix as a flower while the Broadleaf Arrowhead has a more traditional looking small white flower.

 Distribution:  A good site for information:   http://www.ct-botanical-society.org/galleries/sagittarialati.html

  Images: 

                                              Spring                                                         summer                                                         Fall

      40.00.295 N   90.25.463 W

summer

Location:  In the swamp behind Beardstown High School 1500 East 15th street Beardstown IL . 62618

 Copyright:

Steven Arnold Beardstown High School   tracy@beardstown.com

References: 

 http://ghs.gresham.k12.or.us/science/ps/nature/gorge/3petal/h2oplantain/sagittaria.htm

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