NC Common Wetland Plants Guide: Sagittaria lancifolia

Coefficient of Conservatism Values (more info)

Mountains

n/a

Piedmont

n/a

Coastal Plain

National Wetland Plant List Status (more info)

Eastern Mountains/Piedmont

n/a

Coastal Plain

OBL

FIELD ID CHARACTERISTICS:

Leaf veins radiate from petiole attachment point.

Synonym(s): Sagittaria falcata

Description: Emergent or submerged perennial herb usually found in clumps, reaching about 1 m in height.

Leaves: Lance-shaped leaves with pointed tips and very long petioles.

Flowers/Fruit: White, somewhat frilly, 3-petaled flowers with yellow anthers, in whorls of 3 at nodes on flowering stalks. Fruits are rounded balls, green turning to light brown with maturity. Blooms June to September; fruits soon after flowering.

Habit and Range: Found in the Coastal Plain in tidal freshwater marshes or low-salinity brackish marshes, interdunal marshes and ponds, across the coast.

Taxonomic Note: Our North Carolina variety is Sagittaria lancifolia var. media (Weakley 2024)

Typical Max Plant Height (m):

Leaf Arrangement:

Basal

Leaf Division:

Simple

Leaf Margin:

Entire

Leaf Shape:

Lance-shaped (Lanceolate)

Inflorescence Color:

White

Fruit Color:

Brown

Lifespan:

Perennial

Group:

Monocot

Family:

Alismataceae / Water Plantain

Ecoregions Found In:

Coastal Plain

COMMON CONFUSIONS:

The flowers of Sagittaria lancifolia (bull-tongue arrowhead) are nearly identical to Sagittaria latifolia (broadleaf arrowhead); however, S. latifolia has markedly different triangular shaped leaves with pointed leaf bases.

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