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Common Arrowhead, Arrowleaf, Burhead, Wapato, Duck-potato, Broadleaf Arrowhead - Sagittaria latifolia


Family: Alismataceae - Water-plantain family Genus Common Name: Arrowhead Native Status: NativeMonocot Perennial Herb
Sagittaria latifolia - Common Arrowhead, Arrowleaf, Burhead, Wapato, Duck-potato, Broadleaf Arrowhead. Found in every state except Nevada (probably too dry) and Alaska, it is native to the North American continent, but has been introduced and naturalized in Hawaii. It is also native to much of southern Canada. It is listed as Endangered in Illinois. The Southern Weed Science Society considers it to be weedy in some areas.

Found in:
AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY

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Sagittaria latifolia

Distribution of Sagittaria latifolia in the United States and Canada:
Map unavailable.
Map courtesy of The Biota of North America Program.
Map color key

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Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2012-September-25Photographer: Gerald C. Williamson
Nikon D7000
Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro
The blossoms have 3 white petals and are usually less than 1.75 inches across. There may be as many as 30 stamens in the staminate flowers. The pistillate flowers may have hundreds of pistils.
Sagittaria latifolia

Site: Chattanooga Valley Church of the Nazarene, Walker County, GA Date: 2012-September-25Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000
The inflorescence of Sagittaria latifolia carries the flowers in several whorls on the peduncle.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Sagittaria latifolia

Site: Chattanooga Valley Church of the Nazarene, Walker County, GA Date: 2012-September-25Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000
The bur-like seeds form while the plant is still blooming. These seeds give the plant the "burhead" common name, although that name is more commonly applied to the Echinodorus genus in the Water-plantain family.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Sagittaria latifolia

Site: Chattanooga Valley Church of the Nazarene, Walker County, GA Date: 2012-September-25Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000
Broadleaf Arrowhead grows to about 18 inches tall. The leaves are basal, with the inflorescence on a separate stem.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Sagittaria latifolia

Site: Chattanooga Valley Church of the Nazarene, Walker County, GA Date: 2012-September-25Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000
The shape of the leaf gives the genus the "Arrowhead" common name.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Sagittaria latifolia

References used for identification and information:
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Sagittaria latifolia initially published on USWildflowers.com 2012-10-09; Updated 2015-06-24

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All content except USDA Plants Database map Copyright Gerald C. Williamson 2024
Photographs Copyright owned by the named photographer



Code Update 20230302