# lanceleaf arrowhead (*Sagittaria lancifolia*) The lanceleaf arrowhead is a fun plant with long, pointy leaves that look like arrows! It grows in wet places and has pretty white flowers that attract butterflies and bees. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![lanceleaf arrowhead](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Sagittaria_lancifolia_-_Duck_potato.jpg&width=800) Photo: Barnes, Dr. Thomas G., Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sagittaria_lancifolia_-_Duck_potato.jpg) ## Appearance The lanceleaf arrowhead has long, sturdy, dark green leaves that are distinctly lance-shaped and emerge prominently from the water. Its tall stalks bear clusters of delicate white flowers, each with three rounded petals and a bright yellow center, arranged in whorls. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Liliopsida - **Order:** Alismatales - **Family:** Alismataceae - **Genus:** Sagittaria ## Interesting facts - Despite its name, its leaves look more like long spears than typical arrowheads! - Its scientific name, Sagittaria, actually means 'arrow-bearer' in Latin, even though its leaves are lance-shaped. - Its starchy underground tubers were once a delicious and vital food for many Native American tribes. - This plant's roots help clean water and provide shelter for tiny aquatic creatures. ## Special abilities - **Underground Super Snacker:** Lanceleaf arrowhead can store energy in starchy tubers underground, helping it survive winter and regrow in spring. - **Water-Breathing Blades:** Its sturdy leaves emerge above the water, allowing it to easily breathe air even when its roots are submerged. - **Wetland Wanderer:** Lanceleaf arrowhead can thrive in constantly changing water levels, adapting to both shallow and slightly deeper wetland environments. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-150 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Wood Duck](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wood-duck) (*Aix sponsa*) — eats its seeds and starchy tubers - **Eaten by:** Mallard (*Anas platyrhynchos*) — forages on its seeds and underground tubers - **Pollinates:** Common Eastern Bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — visits its white flowers for nectar and pollen - **Eaten by:** Red Swamp Crayfish (*Procambarus clarkii*) — may consume its tender roots and tubers ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Grass-Like](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grass-like): Grass-like plants are herbaceous plants that visually resemble true grasses, typically having long, narrow leaves. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants without asking an adult first! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify lanceleaf arrowhead? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is lanceleaf arrowhead? 30-150 cm ### How big are the flowers on lanceleaf arrowhead? 1-2 cm ### When does lanceleaf arrowhead bloom? Summer ### Is lanceleaf arrowhead edible? Yes ### Is lanceleaf arrowhead toxic? None ### What is lanceleaf arrowhead's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is lanceleaf arrowhead pollinated? Insect ## Where to spot - [Matanzas State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/matanzas-state-forest) — Florida, US · Forest - [Lake Underhill Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lake-underhill-park) — Florida, US · Park ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Lanceleaf Arrowhead: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lanceleaf-arrowhead)