SafePlants

No images found for this plant ID: 42203.

Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "42203" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.

Safe for Children?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Dogs?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Cats?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Reptiles?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

bur-reed

Scientific Name: Sparganium

Family: Sparganiaceae

Category: Monocot

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Bur-reed (Sparganium)

Sparganium, commonly known as Bur-reed, is a genus of flowering plants found in wet temperate regions. Described by Linnaeus in 1753, these emergent plants thrive in still or slowly flowing water. Several species, such as Branched Bur-reed (Sparganium erectum), Giant Bur-reed (Sparganium eurycarpum), and American Bur-reed (Sparganium americanum), are commonly encountered.

Considerations for Pets

  • The text mentions that Bur-reeds have oily seeds.
  • The plant grows rooted in mud at the margins of waterbodies.

Scientific Classification

  • Genus: Sparganium
  • Family: Sparganiaceae (formerly sometimes Typhaceae)

Common Names

  • Bur-reed
  • Branched Bur-reed
  • Unbranched Bur-reed
  • Giant Bur-reed
  • American Bur-reed
  • Simplestem bur-reed
  • European bur-reed

Synonyms and Alternative Names

  • Sparganium emersum (Branched Bur-reed)
  • Sparganium eurycarpum (Giant Bur-reed)
  • Sparganium americanum (American Bur-reed)
  • Sparganium erectum (Simplestem or Branched Bur-reed)

Distribution and Habitat

  • Widespread in wet areas in temperate regions.
  • Grows by still or slowly flowing water.
  • Common in marshes, wet hammocks, and the edges of ponds and streams.
  • Found in wet ditches, canals, fens, lake-sides, river-sides, and similar wet habitats.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Moderately tall aquatic wildflower, typically 30-90 cm in height, but can reach up to 1.5m in some species.
  • Linear, smooth, and keeled leaves that are erect.
  • Some species have long, straight leaves similar to reed-mace.
  • Flowers in a single, unbranched spike (Unbranched Bur-reed) or branched spikes (Branched Bur-reed).
  • Female flowers are in globose flowerheads (capitula) on short stems.
  • Round bur-like flower heads and strap-like leaves distinguish bur-reeds.

Quirky Facts

  • Branched bur-reed is sometimes mistaken for unbranched bur-reed.
  • The flowers and seed heads give visual interest.
  • One species, *Sparganium erectum*, gets its name from Dioscorides.

Ecological Role

  • Forms dense stands in aquatic environments.
  • Represents an important group of emergent plants.

Further Information

  • Illinois Plant Information Network (ILPIN)