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Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Sparganium eurycarpum

Sparganium eurycarpum Engelm.

Broadfruit Bur-reed, Giant Bur-reed, Great Bur-reed

Sparganiaceae (Bur-reed Family)

Synonym(s): Sparganium californicum, Sparganium eurycarpum ssp. eurycarpum

USDA Symbol: speu

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N), SPM (N)

Sparganium eurycarpum reaches a height of 8 feet (2.5 m) and has two stigmas, not one as in the rest of the group.

The Giant Bur-reed is a member of the bur reed family (family Sparganiaceae). Bur reeds are aquatic or marsh herbs with grass-like leaves, and small flowers densely crowded into globose heads in or above the axils of bract-like leaves. There is one genus with about 15 species occurring in temperate and cool regions of the Northern Hemisphere, Australia, and New Zealand.

From the Image Gallery

3 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Achene , Drupe
Size Notes: Up to about 8 feet tall.
Leaf: Green
Fruit: Achene-like drupes.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Green

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MT , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SD , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY
Canada: NB , NL , NS , PE

Growing Conditions

Water Use: High
Light Requirement: Part Shade
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	OBL		OBL		OBL	OBL		OBL	OBL	OBL

This information is derived from: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (2023). 2022 National Wetland Plant List, version 3.6. U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, MS. https://wetland-plants.usace.army.mil/. Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Sparganium eurycarpum in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Sparganium eurycarpum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Sparganium eurycarpum

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-12-20
Research By: TWC Staff

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