Sagittaria lancifolia Linnaeus var. media Micheli

Bull Tongue Arrowhead

Herb

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Vascular

Bull Tongue Arrowhead is a native herbaceous perennial in the Water-Plantain family (Alismataceae). It can be found in the southern-most counties of Alabama, and is most abundant near the coast. Bull Tongue Arrowhead occurs in shallow water along the margins of brackish marshes, in canals, along the margins of ponds and lakes, and in wet roadside ditches. It is a perennial from a thick rhizome, lacking stolons. The leaves are emersed, petiolate, erect, and to 2 meters in height. The blades are linear to elliptic in outline with entire margins. The base of the blade tapers to the petiole. Flowers are produced in 6-13 whorls in panicles or racemes. The inflorescence overtops the foliage. Each pedicellate flower has 3 white petals, 3 green sepals, and numerous green pistils or yellow stamens. The sepals are united for approximately ¼ of their length and are recurved or spreading. The filaments of the stamens are pubescent. The fruit is a beaked, keeled achene. Bull Tongue Arrowhead is occasionally available from native plant nurseries, particularly those that specialize in aquatic and pond plants. It prefers a sandy or peaty soil in an area of shallow water in full sun. Bull Tongue Arrowhead can spread aggressively, and should be planted in a container to confine its growth. It is one of the largest species in the genus, and has a long history of use by Native Americans for food and medicine.—A. Diamond.

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Native OBL (NWPL)

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