Sparganium simplex / SPARGANIACEAE Bur reed family

Other Common Names: None

Description: Sparganium: Aquatic or marsh perennial 1 dm to 2.5 meters tall; creeping rootstalk; stems simple or branched; leaves in 2 rows, long, linear, sheathing at base; flowers tiny, compact in spherical head; nut-like fruit. S. simplex: Stem erect up to 12 dm high; leaves mostly longer, flat, somewhat ridged; 2-6 flower clusters; fruited heads 15-18 mm diameter.

Location: Sparganium: Widely distributed throughout North America; swamps, ponds, shallow water and mud.

Season: Flowers in July and August followed by seed heads; provides edibles

nearly year-round.

Edible: Tubers on rootstalk and bulb-like base.

Preparation: Tubers and bulb-like base are edible when cooked (either boiled or

roasted). Both tubers and bulb-like base can be dried and pounded into flour.

Notes of Interest: There are both resemblance and habitat similarities between some species of this plant and cattail. The cattail, however, has the cylindrical seed head, whereas the bur reed seed is round and burred, and usually grows on the side of the stalk.