SPARGANIACEJE BUR-REED FAMILY 



Sparganium americanum, Nutt. 



Brown-white Bur-reed. 



June-September 



Sparganium: an ancient name, probably from Greek for a 



band, in allusion to the ribbon-like leaves. 

 Americanum: Latin form for American. 



THE PREFERRED HABITAT: bogs and swamps. 



THE PLANT: erect, one half foot high; the flower-stalks 

 unbranched. 



THE LEAVES: alternate; linear and ribbon-like; thin and 

 soft; hairless on both surfaces; acute or bluntish at the 

 apex; sessile; parallel- veined. 



THE FLOWERS: (fertile ones) in bur-like heads. 



It would be easy to consider this plant of the wet places 

 a sedge or grass, but its sessile "burs" are really made up 

 of tiny flowers in parts of three that are differently con- 

 structed from those of a sedge or grass. The heads are 

 supported by bracts, and long, ribbon-like leaves cling to 

 the stem. 



Three other members of the Bur-reed Family have been 

 reported. 



