Narrowleaf burreed
Sparganium angustifolium · Aquatic plants
Flowers or seeds · Photo: Dustin Snider / CC BY
Also called Floating burreed, Floating bur reed, Sparganium emersum ssp. angustifolium
How to identify Narrowleaf burreed
- Long ribbonlike floating leaves 1/8 to 1/4 inch wide, flat or slightly keeled
- Round spiky burlike seed heads on stems that float or stand just above the water
- Leaves fan out on the surface in mountain ponds
- Base of leaves somewhat inflated
Similar plants
Small burreed is smaller with one male flower head, and ribbonleaf pondweeds have a midrib and pondweed style leaves with stipules.
Growth profile
| Growing season | Leaves lengthen to the surface in early summer, flower heads appear from July to August, and the plant dies back in fall to rhizomes and seeds. |
|---|---|
| Starts growing | About 45 to 50 F water |
| Light | Needs clear water |
| Depth | 1 to 6 feet |
| How it spreads | Rhizomes and seeds |
| Habitat | Cold clear mountain lakes, ponds and slow streams, often over sand, gravel or organic mud. |
Why it matters in a lake
Common in mountain lakes where its floating ribbons can cover shallow bays. Seeds are eaten by waterfowl.
Where it is found
- Idaho: Occasional
- Oregon: Occasional
- Wyoming: Occasional
Classification
| Kingdom | Plantae |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Poales |
| Family | Typhaceae |
| Scientific name | Sparganium angustifolium |
American pondweed
Floating leaf pondweed
Yellow pond lily
Fragrant water lily
Water smartweed
Floating marshpennywort
Uruguay water primrose
Watershield
Water purslane
Floating primrose willowNeed a hand?
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