[Illustration: SMALL ARROWHEAD LONG-LOBED ARROWHEAD]
Marsh or water plants; leaves mostly basal; sepals 3; petals 3, white or
pink, tender; stamens 6 or more; pistils many, free; fruit a head of
achenes.
Small Arrowhead (_Sagittaria papillosa_) is a common pond dweller in
Texas and Louisiana. Like other arrowheads the flowers are borne in
whorls, the upper having many stamens and the lower producing the seeds.
It may be distinguished from other narrow-leaved forms by the rough
(papillose) surface of the floral leaves.
Plains or Long-Lobed Arrowhead (_Sagittaria longiloba_) is common in
shallow water on the plains from Nebraska to Mexico from April to
October. The shape of the leaf of this and other species has given the
common names of arrowhead and arrowleaf to this group. Like the
water-plantain and bur-head the flowers have 3 tender white petals. The
wapato duck potato (_S. latifolia_) may be found in East Texas. Growing
in great abundance along the coast, the water potato or scythe-fruited
arrowhead (_S. falcata_) is a showy plant 2-4 feet high with large
lance-shaped leaves. The tubers and young shoots of both of these are
considered excellent foods for ducks. Indians also valued the starchy
tubers for food, and it was the duty of the women to grub in the mud for
them.