Sparganium eurycarpum Engelm. - Common Bur Reed


 

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Sparganium eurycarpum - (image 1 of 4)

 

Taxonomy

Family: Sparganiaceae

Habitat

Marshes, muddy ditches, shallow water, margins of ponds and wet ground.

Associates

In marshes with Acorus calamus, Alisma subcordatum, Iris virginica shrevei, Phragmites australis, Rumex vertcillatus, Sagittaria latifolia, Scirpus validus creber, Sium suave, Typha latifolia.

 Distribution

Quebec and Nova Scotia west to British Columbia, south to VA, IN, OK, and CA.

Morphology

Herbaceous perennial to 1.5 m high. Emersed leaves alternate, to 1.2 cm wide and up to 80 cm long. Floating leaves, when present, of similar dimensions, basal, flat, and limp. Flowers small, in globular heads: the lower typically pistillate, stigmas 2; the upper staminate; the inflorescence angled at the nodes. Fruits beaked achenes more than 3.5 mm thick, in spiky globular heads to 4 cm across.

Notes

Flowers late May to late August

Wetland indicator: Obligate

The presence of two stigmas and locules to each ovary separates this species from other members of the genus.

References

Gleason, Henry A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Second Ed.
The New York Botanical Garden. Bronx, NY

 

Swink, F. and G. Wilhelm. 1994. Plants of the Chicago Region.
Indiana Academy of Science. The Morton Arboretum. Lisle, Illinois.

 

Winterringer, Glen S. and Alvin C. Lopinot. 1966. Aquatic Plants of Illinois
Illinois State Museum and Illinois Dept. of Conservation


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 Michael Hough © 2005