The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Sagittaria subulata

Etymology

subulata: from the Latin subulam ‘awl’, meaning awl-shaped

Authority

Sagittaria subulata (Linne) Buchenau

Family

Alismataceae

Brief Description

Small (relatively short compared with other Sagittaria spp. In NZ) aquatic plant that grows in clumps (roesttes) and produces stolons enabling lateral spread.

Flora Category

Vascular - Exotic

Structural Class

Monocotyledonous Herbs

Distribution

Few field sites in Auckland, Waikato and Tasman.

Habitat

Still and slow flowing water bodies.

Features

Plants stoloniferous, rosette-forming with emegent plants having petiolate ovoid leaves 2-6 cm x 0.5-2 cm. Submerged leaves strap-like 6-60 cm long and up to 0.6 cm wide. Submerged and emergent plants flower with 1 to 10 whorls of flowers, males above female whorls. Flowers 3-petalled, white 1-3.5 cm across. fruiting heads globose, 0.5-0.7 cm across, each with many seeds. Seeds are brown, wedge shaped, 1.5-2 mm long, 1 mm wide, with a characteristic beak.

Similar Taxa

Submerged forms similar to other Sagittaria species and Vallisneria australis. All other species have much broader strap-like leaves.

Flowering

Summer

Flower Colours

White

Fruiting

Autumn

Year Naturalised

1993

Origin

Eastern USA and South America.

Reason for Introduction

Ornamental aquarium plant

Control Techniques

Not usually controlled in New Zealand, but may be controlled manually, or mechanically.

Life Cycle and Dispersal

Seeds. Water dispersed, also deliberate planting.

This page last updated on 21 Aug 2013