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Sagittaria cuneata - Sheldon.

Common Name Wapato, arumleaf arrowhead
Family Alismataceae
USDA hardiness 5-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Calcareous or muddy shores and shallow waters of rivers, lakes, ponds, pastures, and ditches, occasional in tidal waters, or in deep flowing water with slow current; 100 - 2500 metres[43, 270].
Range N. America - Nova Scotia to British Columbia, south to Connecticut, Kansas, and California.
Edibility Rating    (4 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Wet Soil Water Plants Full sun
Sagittaria cuneata Wapato, arumleaf arrowhead


Robert H. Mohlenbrock @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA NRCS. 1992. Western wetland flora: Field office guide to plant species. West Region, Sacramento.
Sagittaria cuneata Wapato, arumleaf arrowhead
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. 3 vols. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. Vol. 1

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Sagittaria cuneata is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.8 m (2ft 7in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in flower from July to August. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers wet soil and can grow in water.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Sagittaria arifolia.

Habitats

 Pond; Bog Garden;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Root
Edible Uses:

Root - raw or cooked[257]. Slightly bitter raw[212], the roasted tubers are sweet-tasting[159, 161]. Those tubers found at the end of the rootstock are the best[159]. When broken off from the roots the tubers rise to the water surface and are then easily gathered[212].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Analgesic  Stomachic

The plant has been used to treat headaches[257]. The corms have been eaten as a treatment for indigestion[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

A pond or bog garden plant, it requires a moist or wet loamy soil in a sunny position[1, 200]. Succeeds in shallow, still or slowly flowing water. Plants are usually monoecious but dioecious forms are sometimes found[43]. A very polymorphic species[43]. In mud or shallow water the leaves are broad, but in deep water the plant only produces long slender leafstalks[212]. This plant has potential for commercial cultivation as a root crop[212].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a pot standing in about 5cm of water. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle, and gradually increase the depth of water as the plants grow until it is about 5cm above the top of the pot. Plant out in late spring or early summer of the following year. Division of the tubers in spring or autumn. Easy. Runners potted up at any time in the growing season.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Sagittaria aginashi Perennial0.0 -  LMHNWeWa10 
Sagittaria brevirostaShort-Beaked Arrow LeafPerennial1.2 -  LMHNWeWa20 
Sagittaria chapmaniiChapman's arrowheadPerennial0.5 -  LMHNWeWa00 
Sagittaria gramineaChinese Arrowhead, Grassy Arrowhead, Weatherby's arrowheadAnnual/Perennial0.5 5-9  LMHSNWeWa100
Sagittaria latifoliaDuck Potato, Broadleaf ArrowheadPerennial1.2 6-9  LMHNWeWa510
Sagittaria rigidaSessile-Fruited ArrowheadPerennial0.8 6-9  LMHNWeWa30 
Sagittaria sagittifoliaArrow Head, Hawaii arrowheadPerennial1.0 6-9  LMHNWeWa510
Sagittaria sagittifolia leucopetala Perennial1.0 -  LMHSNWeWa31 
Sagittaria trifoliaChinese Arrowroot, Threeleaf arrowheadPerennial1.0 10-12  LMHSNWeWa420

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

Sheldon.

Botanical References

43200270

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Jeff Frontz   Sat May 6 2006

Anyone know of a source for sagittaria cuneata seed (or bulbs/roots) in the US?

Jeff Frontz   Wed Nov 1 2006

Found a source for seed in the US: Western Native Seed PO Box 188 Coaldale, CO 81222 719-942-3935 [email protected]

Western Native Seed Source for seed

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