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Alismataceae
Arrowhead
Sagittaria sagittifolia
Precision and clear direction.
- Family
- Alismataceae
- Genus
- Sagittaria
- Native to
- Europe, Asia
- Bloom season
- Summer
- Type
- aquatic perennial
- Height
- 1-3 ft
- Sunlight
- full sun
- Soil
- wet, muddy, shallow water
- Water
- aquatic
- Hardiness
- 5-9
- Lifespan
- perennial
Did you know
- The arrowhead plant produces three distinct leaf shapes on the same individual: submerged leaves are ribbon-shaped, floating leaves are oval, and emergent aerial leaves are the classic arrow-shaped sagittate form.
- The species name 'sagittifolia' combines the Latin 'sagitta' (arrow) and 'folium' (leaf), so the plant is essentially named 'arrow-leaved arrow-headed plant' — a double reference to the same characteristic.
- In China and Japan, the corms of related Sagittaria species are cultivated as 'kuwai,' a traditional New Year's food symbolizing ambition and rising success.
- Arrowhead flowers are monoecious with male and female flowers on the same spike — male flowers with yellow stamens occupy the upper part of the raceme while female flowers are clustered at the base.
- Native Americans ate roasted corms dug from muddy pondbanks, and Lewis and Clark noted its use by indigenous peoples during their 1804–06 expedition across North America.
Color meanings
0
direction
1
clarity
2
purpose