Sagittaria latifolia (Arrowhead)

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Sagittaria latifolia Willd.

Arrowhead, broad-leaved arrowhead, broadleaf arrowhead, duck potato, Indian potato, wapato

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Liliopsida	Monocots (plants with a single seed leaf); includes the lily family
Subclass	Alismatidae	Aquatic and marshy plants
Order	Alismatales	Herbaceous flowering plants found in marshy habitats
Family	Alismataceae	Water-plantain family
Genus	Sagittaria	From Latin sagitta, “arrow,” for the leaf shape
Species	latifolia	Having wide leaves

About plant names...

Broadleaf arrowhead is a North American native. It is named for its arrowhead-shaped leaves.

Identification: Arrowhead inhabits shallow wetlands and river banks. It reaches 8-39" (20-100 cm) in height, growing in colonies. The arrowhead-shaped leaves are up to 16" (40 cm) long and 10" (25 cm) across, supported on stems (petioles) up to 24" (60 cm) long. The petioles become thicker at the base. Flowers are about 1" (2.5 cm) across, white, with yellow centers and three petals. There are 2-3 flowers per flowering stalk.

9/20/2009 · Wild Gardens of Acadia, Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
≈ 21 × 14" (52 × 34 cm)

Broadleaf arrowhead is easily confused with arumleaf arrowhead:

	*Sagittaria cuneata*	You are here Sagittaria latifolia
Common Name	arumleaf arrowhead	arrowhead
Flowers	Each flower has three white petals with yellow centers, and three green sepals; flowers are ⅜-¾" (1-2 cm) in diameter. Flower stalks held upward, not outward.	Each flower has three white petals with yellow centers, and three green sepals; flowers are 1½" (4 cm) in diameter. Flower stalks held outward, not upward.
Leaves	Leaves are 1¾-6" (5-15 cm) long. May also have floating or submersed leaves that are long and narrow, and floating leaves that are oval- or heart-shaped.	1¾-18" (5-45 cm) long.
Stem	Stalks are triangular in cross-section.	Stems angular in cross section.
Range/ Zones		USDA Zones: 4-11
Habitats	Shallow wetlands, river banks	Shallow wetlands, river banks
Type	Wild	Wild

Edibility: The long runners these plants use to spread themselves form 1-2" (2.5-5 cm) potato-like tubers at the ends. Dislodge them from the bottom with a hoe or rake so they float to the surface, gather the tubers, and cook them like potatoes. They are said to be delicious. [From the Peterson field guide listed below.] They were an important food source for Native Americans, although now they are classed as a nuisance in many areas.

Online References:

CalPhotos

Missouriplants.com

Illinois Wildflowers

The Connecticut Botanical Society's Connecticut wildflowers site

Kansas Wildflowers and Grasses

Wikipedia

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

The University of Florida IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants

EFloras

References:

Peterson, Lee Allen, Peterson Field Guides: Edible Wild Plants of Eastern/Central North America, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1977, p. 24