Sparganium eurycarpum (Broad-fruited Bur-reed) - photos and description

 

 

 


Some female flowers with 2 stigmas


Staminate flower heads grow above pistillate flower heads


Achenes beginning to form

General: Robust aquatic perennial with stout stems. Leaves taller than the inflorescence. Plants are glabrous.

Flowers: Male and female flowers on separate heads on the same plant, male flower heads growing above female heads. Flower heads globose, there are 2-3 female flower heads, male heads more numerous. Female flowers often with 2 stigmas. Male flower heads measured to 10 mm diameter, female flower heads to 17 mm diameter, a head full of mature seeds measured to 28 mm diameter.

Leaves: Stems leaves alternate, basal leaves grow in a fan arrangement like an Iris, leaves linear, we measured a leaf 117 tall and 13 mm wide. Leaves keeled.

Height: Height of stems listed in Budd's Flora to 150 cm, we measured flower stems to 86 cm out of the water, and leaves to 117 cm tall.

Habitat: Shorelines and shallow water in the boreal forest.

Abundance: Fairly common, ranked as an S4 by the Saskatchewan Conservation Data Centre.

Origin: Native.

When and where photographed: Took the above photos July 8th, lake shore, boreal forest, about 375 km north east of our home in Regina, SK.