Sagittaria fasciculata

Sagittaria fasciculata, the bunched arrowhead[1] (also known as duck potato, Indian potato, or wapato) is a plant found in a small number of wetlands in the Southeast United States.

Bunched arrowhead

Imperiled  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Alismatales
Family: Alismataceae
Genus: Sagittaria
Species:
S. fasciculata
Binomial name
Sagittaria fasciculata

Description

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Sagittaria fasciculata is a perennial herb up to 35 centimetres (14 inches) tall. Submerged leaves are long and narrow, round in cross-section. Emerging leaves are flat, broadly ovate or lanceolate.[2][3][4]

Distribution and habitat

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S. fasciculata is only known to be found in Henderson and Buncombe Counties in North Carolina plus Greenville and Laurens Counties in South Carolina.[2][5]

It is found in seepage areas with little to no flow. It prefers shaded areas on sandy loams.[2][6]

Conservation

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It was considered endangered in the federal register of July 25, 1979.[7]

Uses

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This plant produces edible tubers that were heavily collected by Native Americans as a food source.[8]

References

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  1. ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "​Sagittaria fasciculata​". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  2. ^ a b c Flora of North America v 22, Sagittaria fasciculata
  3. ^ Beal, Ernest O. 1960. Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society 76(1): 76, f. 3, map 5, Sagittaria fasciculata
  4. ^ Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife. "Raleigh Ecological Services Field Office". www.fws.gov. Retrieved 2017-01-30.
  5. ^ Biota of North America Program, map, Sagittaria fasciculata
  6. ^ Newberry, Gillian (1991-01-01). "Factors Affecting the Survival of the Rare Plant, Sagittaria fasciculata E. O. Beal (Alismataceae)". Castanea. 56 (1): 59–64. JSTOR 4033422.
  7. ^ Federal Register
  8. ^ Buchanan, M.F. and J.T. Finnegan. 2010. Natural Heritage Program List of the Rare Plant Species of North Carolina. N.C. Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh, NC.
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