NOTES ON THE AQUATIC PHENOGAMS OF IOWA. I4 q 



S A GIT TAR I A Linn. Sp. PL (1753). 



1. S. arifolia Ntitt. in Herb. J. G. Smith, Rev. N. A. 



Sag. and Loph., 6 (1894). 



S. sagittaifolia minor Pursh., Fl. Am.. II., 395 (1814). 



A species widely distributed in the western half of the 

 United States, but probably rare within our limits. In general 

 appearance closely resembling form c. of S. latifolia Willd., 

 but the fruit very different, long, winged on both sides, with 

 a very short upright beak, and (in our plant) a prominent 

 vertical sub-epidermal resin passage. Collected at Iowa City 

 bv Prof. Hitchock. Herbarium of Iowa Agricultural College. 



2. S. latifolia Willd. Sp. PL, IV., 409 (1806). 



S. variabilis Engelm. Gray's Man.. 1st ed.. (1848). 

 S. sagittaifolia Auc. Amer. 

 (?)i5. sagittcefolia Linn. Sp. 993 (1753). 



Smith. Rev. N. A. Sag. and Loph., 8; Wats, and Coult., 

 Gray's Man., 6th ed.. 554: Macmillan, Metas. Minn. Val.,45; 

 Arthur, Fl. Iowa. 31; Hitchcock, Ames FL, 522. 



Very common throughout the State in sloughs and edges 

 of ponds, lakes, and streams. Excessively variable in size, 

 foliage, shapes of the achenia, etc. The typical plant has 

 achenia obliquely or horizontally beaked, both of which forms 

 are common within our limits. J. G. Smith in his recent mon- 

 ograph includes live forms of which form a. the var. obtusa 

 Eagelm., and form c. including the varieties hast at a, angusti- 

 folia. gracilis, and diversifolia of most collectors are frequent. 



Several species of Sagittaria produce tubers, especially S. 

 latifolia and its various forms. These tubers are called Wab- 

 es-i-pin-ig. or swan potatoes, by the Chippewa Indians, because 

 they furnish nourishment for the larger aquatic fowls. "These 

 tubers sometimes attain the size of a small hen's tgg and are 

 then eaten by the Indians with whom they are a great favor- 

 ite. In their raw state thev contain a bitter, milky juice, but 

 in boiling become sweet and palatable." — Parry. 



Decorah, Holway; Emmet and Kossuth counties, C ratty ; 



