''Sparganium eurycarpum'' is a species of
bur-reed
''Sparganium'' (bur-reed) is a genus of flowering plants, described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753. It is widespread in wet areas in temperate regions of both the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The plants are Perennial ...
known by the common names broadfruit bur-reed and giant bur-reed. It is native to
wetlands
A wetland is a distinct ecosystem that is flooded or saturated by water, either permanently (for years or decades) or seasonally (for weeks or months). Flooding results in oxygen-free (anoxic) processes prevailing, especially in the soils. The ...
in Eurasia and North America. It is a clonal perennial, spreading by below-ground rhizomes. The common name, bur-reed, arises from the distinctive round clusters of fruits that take the form of a mace. It can be distinguished from all other species of bur-reed by the presence of two stigmas.
This species frequently occurs in areas with spring flooding, and may be emersed during periods of lower water. The buried rhizomes provide one method to survive periods of drought, fire, or ice scour. The flowers are wind pollinated, the male flower clusters being separate and more highly elevated than the female. It also produces large seeds, which can accumulate in the soil as buried reserves. It can form dense stands under the right conditions; for example, ''Sparganium'' is one of the four main vegetation types in the Ottawa River, Canada.
[Day, R. T., P. A. Keddy, J. McNeill, and T. Carleton. 1988. Fertility and disturbance gradients: a summary model for riverine marsh vegetation. Ecology 69: 1044–1054.] Muskrats feed on the plant, particularly its rhizomes, while the seeds are an important food source for waterfow
References
External links
Field Office Guide to Plant Species - ''Sparganium eurycarpum''* Deep and shallow marshe
Sparganium, eurycarpum
Flora of Europe
Flora of Asia
Flora of North America
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