Common name: Branching Bur-reed
Sparganium erectum L. APNI* Synonyms: Sparganium ramosum Huds. APNI*
Description: Rhizomatous, perennial emergent herb.
Basal leaves erect, 70–160 cm long, 8–22 mm wide.
Inflorescences 4–6-branched, terminal branch as long as or slightly longer than the basal branches; female heads 1 or 2(-3) per branch; each basal head distant from axil of a leaf-like bract or subtended by a very reduced bract; distal heads rarely subtended by a leaf-like bract; male heads 7–14 per branch.
Fruiting heads (15-)20–25 mm wide.
Flowering: Flowers November–May.
Distribution and occurrence: Naturalised on South Coast and Central Western Slopes; also Qld and Vic., native to Europe and North Africa. Grows in still and flowing freshwater.
NSW subdivisions: *SC, *CWS
Other Australian states: *Qld *Vic.
This species has possibly become naturalised relatively recently even though it was introduced prior to 1900. It produces long stolons so is potentially an invasive weed. Possibly conspecific with taxa in Asia and North America.
Text by B.J. Conn (1994); edited KL Wilson (April 2013)
Taxon concept: B.J. Conn (1994)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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