Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness

Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department of Natural Sciences

Sparganium emersum Rehmann
(Bur Reed)


Family: Typhaceae, formerly Sparganiaceae

Status: Native

Synonyms:
None

Sparganium emersum is an odd-appearing aquatic plant that at first glance may be mistaken for a sedge or a cattail. It has the long, thin leaves of a cattail, but the clustered flowerheads similar to sedges but without scales. The achenes of Sparganium emersum are tapered to the tip, and the plants are only partially underwater. They have only one stigma. The leaves are broadly triangular in cross section with a keel. Sparganium emersum is found at middle elevation on streambanks of slowly moving water in the northern portion of the forest.
Please click on an image for a larger file.



Sparganium emersum, growth habit, photo Russ Kleinman, Quemado Lake, Largo Trail, Aug. 20. 2012



Sparganium emersum, pistillate flowerheads, photo Russ Kleinman, Quemado Lake, Largo Trail, Aug. 20. 2012



Sparganium emersum, closeup of pistillate flowerheads, photo Russ Kleinman, Quemado Lake, Largo Trail, Aug. 20. 2012



Sparganium emersum, closeup of pistillate flowerheads, photo Russ Kleinman, Quemado Lake, Largo Trail, Aug. 20. 2012



Sparganium emersum, macro of pistillate flowerheads, photo Russ Kleinman, Quemado Lake, Largo Trail, Aug. 20. 2012


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