Alismataceae - arrowhead family
[information to be added]
Maine is home to 8 species in 2 genera (hybrids excluded). If you know which species you have or are interested in learning about, click on the appropriate link from the species list below. Otherwise, to determine which species your sweetflag is, refer to the table below the species list.
Alisma (2 species)
Alisma subcordatum - southern water-plantain
Alisma triviale - northern water-plantain
Sagittaria (6 species)
Sagittaria cuneata - northern arrowhead
Sagittaria filiformis - narrow-leaved arrowhead
Sagittaria graminea var. graminea - grass-leaved arrowhead
Sagittaria latifolia - common arrowhead
Sagittaria montevidensis ssp. spongiosa - spongy-leaved arrowhead
Sagittaria rigida - sessile-fruited arrowhead
| stamen number | number of carpel whorls | receptacle shape | ||
| Alisma | 6 | 1 | flat | |
| Sagittaria | 7–30 | several | convex |
Alisma (water-plantain)
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| char. 1 | char. 2 | char. 3 | char. 4 | |
| A. subcordatum | ||||
| A. triviale |
Alisma subcordatum (southern water-plantain) - [information to be added]
Alisma triviale (northern water-plantain) - [information to be added]
Sagittaria (arrowhead)
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| red font = character state unique or nearly so | plant height | perianth width | fruit (achene) length | achene beak length |
| S. cuneata | S. filiformis | |||
| Sagittaria graminea var. graminea | 7–60 cm | 1–1.5 cm | 1.5–2 mm (rarely produced) | 0.1–0.3 mm |
| Sagittaria latifolia | to 150 cm | 2.5–4 cm | 2.4–4 mm | 0.6–1.8 mm | S. montebidensis ssp. spongiosa | S. rigida |
Sagittaria cuneata (northern arrowhead) - [information to be added]
Sagittaria filiformis (narrow-leaved arrowhead) - [information to be added]
Sagittaria graminea var. graminea (grass-leaved arrowhead) - [information to be added]
Sagittaria latifolia (common arrowhead) - [information to be added]
(click on image to enlarge)
Sagittaria montevidensis ssp. spongiosa (spongy-leaved arrowhead) - [information to be added]
Sagittaria rigida (sessile-fruited arrowhead) - [information to be added]
Note:
1. Taxonomy and nomenclature follow Flora Novae Angliae by Arthur Haines (2011, Yale University Press, ISBN 978-0-300-17154-9).