American bur-reed (Sparganium americanum, Gen. N. Amer. Pl. 2: 203 (1818))

Family: Typhaceae

Author: Nutt.

Bibliography: Gen. N. Amer. Pl. 2: 203 (1818)

Year: 1818

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Sparganium

Vegetable: False

Observations: C. & E. Canada to C. & E. U.S.A., Mexico (Sinaloa, Durango), Colombia

Description

The American bur-reed, known scientifically as Sparganium americanum, is a noteworthy aquatic plant belonging to the family Typhaceae. First described by Nutt. in 1818 in the seminal work “Gen. N. Amer. Pl. 2: 203,” this plant is distinguished for its widespread habitat across diverse regions.

Sparganium americanum has a robust presence in central and eastern Canada and the United States, extending its reach into Mexico, specifically in the states of Sinaloa and Durango, and further south into Colombia. This broad geographical distribution underscores the plant’s adaptability to various wetland environments.

The American bur-reed thrives in marshy areas, ponds, and slow-moving streams where it plays a crucial ecological role. Its growth habits and structural composition provide increased habitat complexity, benefiting numerous aquatic species. Furthermore, the dense foliage and intricate root systems of Sparganium americanum contribute to water quality improvement by stabilizing the substrate and facilitating the filtration of pollutants.

A visually distinctive plant, the American bur-reed is characterized by its lance-shaped leaves and the unique spherical clusters of bur-like fruits that lend it its common name. These features not only add to the plant’s ecological value but also to its aesthetic appeal in natural water gardens and restoration projects.

Celebrated for both its ecological functions and its resilience, Sparganium americanum continues to be a subject of interest for botanists and ecologists alike as they seek to understand and preserve the vital wetland habitats this plant helps to support.

Common Names

Eng: american bur-reed, american burreed, nuttall’s burrweed, three-square burreed
Fra: rubanier d’amérique
En: American bur-reed, American Burr-Reed, AMERICAN BURREED, Nuttall’s burrweed, Three-square burreed
Ar: إسبارغانيون أمريكي
Fr: Rubanier d’Amérique

Synonyms

• Sparganium americanum var. typicum (R.T.Clausen)
• Sparganium americanum var. rigidum (R.T.Clausen)
• Sparganium simplex var. americanum ((Nutt.) Engl.)
• Sparganium americanum var. nuttallii (A.Gray)
• Sparganium ligulare (Raf.)
• Sparganium simplex var. nuttallii (Engelm.)

Distribution

• Alabama (native)
• Arkansas (native)
• Colombia (native)
• Connecticut (native)
• Delaware (native)
• Florida (native)
• Georgia (native)
• Illinois (native)
• Indiana (native)
• Iowa (native)
• Kansas (native)
• Kentucky (native)
• Louisiana (native)
• Maine (native)
• Manitoba (native)
• Maryland (native)
• Masachusettes (native)
• Mexico Northeast (native)
• Mexico Northwest (native)
• Michigan (native)
• Minnesota (native)
• Mississippi (native)
• Missouri (native)
• New Brunswick (native)
• New Hampshire (native)
• New Jersey (native)
• New York (native)
• Newfoundland (native)
• North Carolina (native)
• Nova Scotia (native)
• Ohio (native)
• Oklahoma (native)
• Ontario (native)
• Pennsylvania (native)
• Prince Edward I. (native)
• Québec (native)
• Rhode I. (native)
• South Carolina (native)
• Tennessee (native)
• Texas (native)
• Vermont (native)
• Virginia (native)
• West Virginia (native)
• Wisconsin (native)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Jul 19, 2021 by Sasha Boucher (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 9, 2020 by Ken Borgfeldt (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Jul 30, 2022 by Natures Fairy (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 9, 2020 by Ken Borgfeldt (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Jul 9, 2020 by Ken Borgfeldt (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 3, 2019 by Melissa Melissa Keneely (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Oct 3, 2019 by Melissa Melissa Keneely (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 18, 2019 by Matt (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − USDA NRCS Wetland Science Institute. (public)

Taken Sep 5, 2012 by EOL − Charlie Hohn (cc-by-nc)

Taken May 7, 2015 by EOL − jonibaum (cc-by-nc)

Habit

Taken Oct 3, 2019 by Melissa Melissa Keneely (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 5, 2015 by EOL − bendingtree (cc-by-nc)

© 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.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2702311)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:836744-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Sparganium americanum Nutt.)

Specifications

Growth form>: Colonizing

Growth habit>: Forb/herb

Growth rate>: Moderate

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.3

Ph minimum: 4.9