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Sagittaria lancifolia L.

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Bulltongue arrowhead, Lanceleaf arrowhead, Duck-potato

This perennial plant arises with basal leaves to 90cm tall from tuber-producing rhizomes. The leaves have long petioles and arrowhead shaped leaf blades to 25cm long. Submerged leaves are lance-shaped or even bladeless. The 1-2.5cm wide 3 petaled showy and white flowers appear in late spring and summer.

Distribution: Alabama, Bahamas, Belize, Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, Cayman Is., Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Florida, French Guiana, Georgia, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Louisiana, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Mississippi, Nicaragua, North Carolina, Panamá, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Suriname, Venezuela, Virginia, Windward Is.

Submitted by
Natasha Khardina
GPS
-0.2082620, -63.1138916
Geographical region
South America
Drainage Basin
River Demini
River catchment
Rio Aracá
Water body type
Igarapè
Water body name
Ponta Pelada
Water body part
Open water
Water body course
Upper course
Water body: tributary of
Igarapè
Tributary name
Sauvaudaua
Type locality
Brazil
Conservation status/IUCN Red List
Not Evaluated (NE)
Listed in CITES
No

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Water Chemistry

Water information

Water type
Fresh water
Water color
Clear water
Water transparency
Medium
Concentration of sediments
Low
Water temperature
20-25 °C
Water flow/curent
Strong

Chemical parameters

pH
4.5-8.0
Conductivity
GH
KH
Dissolved Oxygen

Phytology

Plant form
Submersed
Plant type
Rhizomatous
Plant size
40-90 cm
Plant growth rate
Moderate
Plant light demand
High
CO2
Low
Aquarium equipment

Sagittaria lancifolia are reliable perennials used for water gardens. In nature, they are emergent aquatic plants that grow on the margins of ponds and slow moving streams. They should be planted no deeper that 30cm in a water garden in a full sun location.

Plant care

Members of the Alismataceae family grow in water, in swamps, on muddy banks, or occasionally in wet sand. Each plant has long-petioled leaves in a clump with a flowering stem rising among them. The flowers have 3 green sepals, 3 white or pink-tinged petals, 6 or more stamens, and several pistils. Stamens and pistils may be in separate flowers.

Water care

Sagittaria lancifolia is a plant that can be used as a phytoremediator. It thrives well in a wide range of acquatic conditions.

Bibliography

Sitography

→ Plants of the World Online

Comment by the expert

The tubers of Sagittaria lancifolia were called Duck Potato or Wapato because of its edible egg-shaped rhizomes. Native Americans cleared ponds of competing plants to locate and harvest the tubers in fall. The tubers were stored and cooked as needed, providing an excellent source of carbohydrates.