Sparganium angustifolium Michx.

Scientific Classification and Common Names

Sparganium angustifolium Michx. is a species of flowering plant in the cat-tail family, commonly known as floating bur-reed and narrowleaf bur-reed.

Distribution

It has a circumboreal distribution, found across the northern latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere.

Growth Depth

This is an aquatic plant that grows in water up to 2.5 meters deep.

Habitat Characteristics

Its typical habitat consists of acidic, low-nutrient freshwater bodies, including ponds, lakes, slow-moving streams, and ditches.

Population Density

It can grow in large enough quantities to nearly cover the entire surface of the water.

Growth Form

It is a perennial herb that produces a floating stem with long, narrow, flattened leaves.

Leaf Size

The leaves can grow quite long, sometimes reaching more than two meters in length.

Reproductive System

This species is monoecious, meaning a single individual plant produces both male and female inflorescences.

Inflorescence Structure

Both types of inflorescence are spherical: the male inflorescence is a ball of stamens, while the female inflorescence is a ball of developing fruits.