Family: Typhaceae
Author: L.
Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 971 (1753)
Year: 1753
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Sparganium
Vegetable: False
Observations: Europe to C. Asia and N. Africa
Description
The Branched Bur-Reed, scientifically known as Sparganium erectum, is a fascinating and widespread plant species notable for its prominent structural and ecological features. This perennial species was first documented in 1753 by the esteemed botanist Carl Linnaeus in his seminal work, “Species Plantarum.”
Sparganium erectum thrives in wetland areas across a broad geographic range, extending from Europe through Central Asia and into Northern Africa. It belongs to the Typhaceae family, which is distinguished by its robust aquatic and semi-aquatic plants. The Branched Bur-Reed embodies this family’s adaptive characteristics, flourishing in diverse waterlogged environments such as marshes, ponds, and the margins of slow-moving streams and rivers.
The plant is characterized by its erect, branched stems that can grow up to 1.5 meters in height. The leaves are long and narrow, often emerging from the base and providing a dense, grass-like appearance. This structural form not only supports the plant’s growth in hydric conditions but also plays a vital role in supporting wetland ecosystems by stabilizing soil and providing habitat and food for various aquatic fauna.
One of the distinctive features of Sparganium erectum is its unique inflorescence. The spherical, bur-like clusters of flowers are borne on branching stems, which subsequently mature into spiky fruit clusters. These conspicuous fruits, often referred to as “burs,” aid in the plant’s propagation through water dispersal mechanisms. The burs’ buoyant characteristics allow them to float and be carried to new locales, ensuring the spread and continuation of the species in suitable habitats.
Beyond its ecological significance, the Branched Bur-Reed has been studied for its potential uses in phytoremediation, given its capacity to absorb and concentrate heavy metals and other pollutants from its environment. This quality positions Sparganium erectum as a valuable ally in the effort to clean and manage polluted water bodies.
In summary, Sparganium erectum, or Branched Bur-Reed, is a resilient and ecologically important species within the Typhaceae family. Found across Europe, Central Asia, and Northern Africa, it serves crucial roles in maintaining wetland ecosystems and offers promising applications in environmental management.
Common Names
Deu: aufrechter igelkolben, ästiger igelkolben
Dan: grenet pindsvineknop
Eng: simple-stem burr-reed, branched bur-reed, branched burreed, exotic bur-reed, simplestem bur-reed
Nld: grote egelskop, blonde egelskop
Nob: kjempepiggknopp
Nno: kjempepiggknopp
Fra: rubanier rameux, rubanier dressé, rubanier d’eau
Swe: stor igelknopp, storigelknopp, sotigelknopp, storfruktig storigelknopp
Cym: cadwen, cawen, cawen ganghennog, cawn, cleddlys, cleddlys canghennog, cleddyfhesg, cleddyflys, cleddyflys canghennog
Ita: coltellaccio maggiore
Kor: heuk-sam-neung
En: Branched bur-reed, Exotic bur-reed, Simplestem bur-reed, Simple-stem burr-reed, Simplestem burreed, Simple-stem bur-reed, Branched burreed, Bur Reed
Ar: إسبارغانيون قائم
Be: Плюшчай прамы
Bg: Ежова главичка
Ca: Bova borda, Espargani erecte, Espargani ramificat
Zh: 實栗
Cs: Zevar vzpřímený
Da: Grenet Pindsvineknop
Nl: Grote egelskop, Blonde egelskop
Et: Haruline jõgitakjas
Fi: Haarapalpakko, Isopalpakko
Fr: Rubanier d’eau, Rubanier dressé, Rubanier d’eau, Rubanier, Rubanier rameux, Rubanier ramifié, Ruban-d’eau
De: Aufrechter Igelkolben, Ästiger Igelkolben, Verzweigter Igelkolben
He: כדורן ענף
Hu: Ágas békabuzogány
Ga: Rísheisc
It: Coltellaccio maggiore, Coltellaccio, Biodo
Ko: 흑삼릉, Heuk-sam-neung
Lt: Šakotasis šiurpis
Nb: Kjempepiggknopp
Nn: Kjempepiggknopp
Fa: نی توپی
Pl: Jeżogłówka gałęzista
Ru: Ежеголовник прямой
Sk: Ježohlav vzpriamený
Es: Espadaña erizo, Platanaria
Sv: Stor igelknopp, Fläblad, Storigelknopp, Sotigelknopp, Storfruktig storigelknopp
Zh-hant: 實慄
Uk: Їжача голівка пряма
Wa: Tcherdon d’ aiwe
Cy: Cleddlys canghennog, Cadwen, Cawen, Cawen Ganghennog, Cawn, Cleddlys, Cleddyfhesg, Cleddyflys, Cleddyflys Canghennog
Synonyms
Distribution
- Albania (native)
- Algeria (native)
- Altay (native)
- Austria (native)
- Baleares (native)
- Baltic States (native)
- Belarus (native)
- Belgium (native)
- Bulgaria (native)
- Central European Rus (native)
- Corse (native)
- Czechoslovakia (native)
- Denmark (native)
- East Aegean Is. (native)
- East European Russia (native)
- Finland (native)
- France (native)
- Germany (native)
- Great Britain (native)
- Greece (native)
- Hungary (native)
- Iran (native)
- Iraq (native)
- Ireland (native)
- Irkutsk (native)
- Italy (native)
- Kazakhstan (native)
- Kirgizstan (native)
- Krasnoyarsk (native)
- Kriti (native)
- Krym (native)
- Lebanon-Syria (native)
- Libya (native)
- Morocco (native)
- Netherlands (native)
- North Caucasus (native)
- North European Russi (native)
- Northwest European R (native)
- Norway (native)
- Palestine (native)
- Poland (native)
- Portugal (native)
- Romania (native)
- Sardegna (native)
- Sicilia (native)
- South European Russi (native)
- Spain (native)
- Sweden (native)
- Switzerland (native)
- Tadzhikistan (native)
- Transcaucasus (native)
- Tunisia (native)
- Turkey (native)
- Turkey-in-Europe (native)
- Turkmenistan (native)
- Ukraine (native)
- Uzbekistan (native)
- West Siberia (native)
- Yugoslavia (native)
Additional Images
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Flower
Taken Jun 23, 2014 by Alain Lagrave (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 30, 2021 by nicolas pecqueux (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 18, 2016 by huy HO (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 1, 2021 by Joseph Bartram (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 16, 2021 by Răzvan Popescu-Mirceni (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken Jul 1, 2021 by k.dimitrov d (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 13, 2021 by k.dimitrov d (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 31, 2019 by Waldemar Zeja (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 1, 2021 by k.dimitrov d (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 18, 2016 by huy HO (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken Aug 8, 2021 by Raffaella B. (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 15, 2022 by Patrick Nard (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 2, 2021 by Richard Thomas (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 1, 2021 by Joseph Bartram (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 30, 2021 by nicolas pecqueux (cc-by-sa)
Leaf
Taken Jul 11, 2021 by Darren Giddins (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 8, 2021 by Raffaella B. (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 30, 2021 by nicolas pecqueux (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 11, 2020 by Darren Giddins (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 1, 2021 by Joseph Bartram (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Aug 13, 2021 by k.dimitrov d (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 12, 2019 by Jiří Vilím (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 21, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Dominique REMAUD (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 1, 1800 by Tela Botanica − Gaël GICQUIAUD (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 26, 2021 by xa b1 (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc-sa)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/7679536)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:836758-1)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Sparganium erectum L.)
Specifications
Growth habit: Forb/herb
Growth
Ph maximum: 7.5
Ph minimum: 7.0
Light: 8
Atmospheric humidity: 8
Soil nutriments: 7